The first real snow always seems to come on a night when the bread aisle is already empty. Emergency officials say the time to get ready is before the forecast turns, when stores are calm and you can take your time.
Plan for at least three days
Ready.gov, the federal emergency site, says to keep enough supplies for at least three days at home. In a big storm, roads can close and the power can be out that long.
Food and water
- Water: one gallon per person per day, for at least three days. Add some for pets.
- Food that needs no cooking: canned soup, canned meat and tuna, canned fruit, peanut butter, crackers, cereal, granola bars.
- A manual can opener. An electric one is no help in a power outage.
Light, heat and news
- Flashlights and extra batteries. Skip candles if you can; they cause many home fires.
- A battery or hand-crank radio, ideally a NOAA Weather Radio, for alerts when the internet is down.
- Extra blankets, warm layers, hats and gloves for everyone.
- Phone chargers and a charged power bank.
Health and household
- A two-week supply of prescription medicines, and a list of what each person takes.
- A first-aid kit.
- Ice melt or sand for the steps and walkway, and a sturdy shovel.
- Pet food and baby supplies if you need them.
Before the storm hits
- Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide is a real winter danger.
- Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors or in the garage, even with the door open.
- Fill the car’s gas tank.
- Know how to shut off your water if a pipe freezes and bursts.
- Let faucets drip a little on the coldest nights so pipes don’t freeze.
Build it a little at a time
You don’t need to buy everything in one trip. Ready.gov suggests adding a few items each week, so you’re set before winter really starts.
Sources
- Ready.gov, Winter weather: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather
- Ready.gov, Build a kit: https://www.ready.gov/kit
- American Red Cross, Winter storm safety: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html
- CDC, Carbon monoxide poisoning prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/prevention/index.html
