This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

You might have seen the news lately – the Midwestern United States is getting hammered by strong storms. Even if you don’t live in the Midwest, it’s still extremely important for you to know how to prepare your home (and family) for a severe storms. Weather conditions can be volatile, which means the severity of a storm could change at a moment’s notice. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a severe storm.

Prepare for a Power Outage
In many cases, a strong storm might cause the power to go out in your area. Since power outages may occur even with “weak” storms, this should always be your first priority. If your water supply runs on an electric pump, fill up the bathtub with water. This water can be used for flushing the toilet, washing dishes and other tasks. You should also store some drinking water in safe containers, especially if you don’t have any bottled water stored. If the power does go out, it’s usually best to tape your refrigerator and freezer shut, in order to make sure that they stay cool for as long as possible. You should also prepare candles, flashlights and a battery-powered weather radio.

Secure Your Home
Close any shutters, put away garden tools and make sure your yard is free of debris. Strong winds can cause debris to damage your home and property. You should also make sure that your windows are closed for the storm. Despite information suggesting otherwise, it’s usually best to keep your windows shut during a storm that also has strong winds and/or rain.

Be Prepared to Leave
If a severe storm turns nasty, you might be advised to evacuate your home. Have a “Go Bag” ready with everything your family might need in the event of an evacuation. Have at least a three day supply of food, water, warm clothing and toiletries in the bag. If you have children, you should also bring books, toys or familiar items to make the evacuation less stressful. You might be evacuating to a shelter, and may need to stay in the shelter until the storm passes.

Stay Updated On Weather Conditions
Many strong storms also have the ability to spawn dangerous tornadoes. You need to know as soon as a tornado has been sighted in your area if you want to keep your family safe. Keep watching your local news, since it will allow you to stay updated on the weather conditions and advisories in your area. If your power goes out, turn on your weather radio and continue to listen to any warnings and updates.

Stay Calm
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice for severe weather conditions is for you to stay calm. Though it’s always frightening to be caught in bad weather, if you’ve made the preparations listed above, you have a much higher chance of staying safe during severe storms. Also, if you have children, it’s important to reassure them that your family will be safe during the storm. Staying calm will also allow you to think clearly in the event of an emergency.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Three climbers are asccending a sheer rock face – a father, his daughter and his son. The three are in high spirits – until their climbing equipment malfunctions, and they’re left hanging over a several-hundred-foot drop, with their last anchor about to pull out of the rock face and plunge them all to their death. Knowing that they’re all doomed, the father sacrifices himself, cutting his harness free of the rope so that his children can be saved. Before plunging down towards the ground, he gives them a tearful goodbye, not even hesitating to give his own life to save the lives of his children.

This emotional scene is the beginning of “Vertical Limit”, a 2000 action movie that pits several people up against extreme weather conditions on an unforgiving mountain. The characters in the movie have to go up against avalanches, the betrayal of other characters, faulty explosives and extreme cold.

If you live in an area that has a temperate climate, you may not have ever experienced extremely cold weather. If you live in some of the northern areas of the United States, you already have a healthy respect for how dangerous cold weather can be. Here are a few tips to help you to stay safe in extremely cold weather.

Dress in Layers
Though it may be tempting to simply wear a warm jacket, you will be best protected against the cold weather if you dress in layers. Your bottom layer should be an insulating layer that also has the ability to wick sweat away from your skin. Polypropylene is a great bottom layer for extreme weather conditions. Next should be wool, which should be covered by a fleece layer. Your top layer should be a waterproof jacket or other covering. By dressing in layers, you will be able to trap more heat against your body, and stay warmer in cold weather.

Know the Warning Signs
There are a few warning signs that will let you know that it’s time to get out of the cold. A few of these are:

• Pale skin
• Skin that’s waxy and cool to the touch
• Rapid breathing
• Excessively flushed face, hands, etc
• Dizziness
• Feeling sleepy or lethargic
• Tingling or numbness in extremeties

If you experience any of these symptoms, or if a member of your family is having difficulty, get out of the cold immediately! Frostbite, hypothermia and other health problems may cause long-lasting permanent damage to the human body.

Keeping Your Home Warm and Cozy
During periods of extremely cold weather, it beccomes all the more important to maintain the temperature inside of your home. This may involve installing insulation, shrink-wrapping windows, replacing glass doors and other renovations (which are usually best done in the warm summer months). If wintertime comes and you discover that your home isn’t cold-proof, there are still things you can do to keep your house warm. Keep your heat turned on, but not high enough that it will overload your electrical circuits. Use cloth or insulating tape to help reduce drafts around doors, windows or other areas.

Cold Weather Safety Tips

This simple video offers a few more winter safety tips, as well as tips for dealing with extremely cold weather.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tips from the US Army for Cold Weather

This very short video gives a few tips about how to stay safe in cold weather conditions.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Each year, many homeowners end up spending thousands of dollars on fixing frozen pipes. During periods of extremely cold weather, it’s common for the water in pipes to freeze. Since water expands when it freezes, this often results in a pressure crack in the pipes, which then causes the pipes to “burst”. This breach in the pipe can cause flooding, which will most likely result in further damage expenses. To prevent this, it’s best to know some simple tips and tricks you can use to keep your pipes from freezing.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 1: Add Insulation
A great way to help reduce the chances that your pipes will freeze is to insulate them before the cold weather hits. Any exposed piping in your house will benefit from insulation, which helps to lower the risk of frozen pipes. If you aren’t comfortable insulating your pipes yourself, you can always consult a professional to do it for you.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 2: Seal Off Drafts
Another method that you can use to help prevent frozen pipes is to seal off any cracks that allow cold air to come in contact with exposed piping. Some of the most common areas where cold air can enter your home are around dryer vents, electrical wiring or through small spaces in between siding (for unfinished walls). To seal these cracks, you can use electrical tape, but using caulk or extra insulation provides a more permanent solution.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 3: Open Your Faucets
To help prevent your pipes from freezing, you may want to open the faucets in your home. This should be done on especially cold nights, or when you expect to be away from your home for a significant amount of time. In some cases, a small trickle of water running through the pipe may be enough to prevent your pipes from freezing. Be sure to only turn on your faucets if you have an unobstructed drain which allows for free draining of water from the faucet.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 4: Expose Main-Floor Piping
To help prevent pipes on your main floor from freezing, you may want to expose them to heat. Now, it should be noted that this should only be done for piping that is in areas such as under sinks or in cabinets. Open the door of the cabinet to expose the piping to the heat circulating around the rest of the floor. It’s recommended that you do this on the same floor where your primary heat vents are located.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 5: Set Your Thermostat
Many people tend to turn their thermostat down or off when they leave their home. This is actually one of the most common reasons why pipes may freeze. Even though it may not seem cost-effective to leave your heat running in your absence, it can be very important for preventing the additional expense of fixing frozen pipes. Set your thermostat no lower than 55F, and be sure that your heat source is well-supplied to heat your home in your absence.

Winter Safety – Frozen Pipes Tip 6: Shut Off Outdoor Faucets
If you have a garden hose, it’s highly recommended that you shut off the valve of the pipe that leads to the outdoor faucet. In the winter, the short length of piping that extends to the hose faucet may collect water, which has a much higher chance of freezing. It’s also important that you disconnect any garden hoses in your yard, storing them safely until they may be reconnected in spring.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

For much of the United States, the winter season is often characterized by severe weather situations. Storms that bring snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain and blizzards are only some of the hazards that can occur due to winter weather. In an effort to help warn people about approaching bad weather, the NOAA National Weather Service has designed a number of winter weather safety alerts. However, many people don’t understand the meaning of these winter weather safety alerts, and how to prepare a safety plan for severe weather. What is the difference between a “Watch”, “Advisory” and “Warning”? What temperatures should you prepare for in the event of a “Wind Chill Warning”? Understanding these winter weather safety advisories can help you to be better prepared to protect your family’s safety in severe weather situations.

Winter Storm Warning
If your area is currently being affected by a “Winter Storm Warning”, you can expect that you will be dealing with ice and/or heavy snow that will create emergency conditions. Driving during a winter storm warning is not recommended. As a general description, this warning means that there is a confirmed storm that will most likely create severe wind chills, drifting snow and heavy precipitation. The conditions during a winter storm warning are considered to be life-threatening.

Winter Storm Watch
During a “Winter Storm Watch”, there is a chance that your area will be exposed to conditions expected during a severe winter storm. Blowing/drifting snow, severe wind chills, blizzard conditions, snow and ice are all weather conditions that characterize a winter storm. In a “Winter Storm Watch”, this means that weather forecasters are approximately 50% certain that a winter storm will affect your area.

Winter Weather Advisory
This alert is issued for a combination of heavy snow and ice that does not exceed or meet the criteria required for a “Warning” to be issued. The combination of weather conditions expected during a winter weather advisory are considered to be hazardous, and travel is not recommended without extreme caution.

Wind Chill Warning
When this alert is issued, weather experts are expecting that the wind chill will be less than -25F. In these conditions, extreme caution should be taken, since frostbite on any exposed skin may occur in ten minutes or less.

Wind Chill Watch
A wind chill watch is issued when there is a potential chance of wind chills dropping below -25F. This can cause conditions where frostbite or hypothermia occur in a relatively short time.

Heavy Snow Warning
During a heavy snow warning, weather forecasters are expecting that over 7 inches of snow will be falling within less than 12 hours. However, this warning may also refer to a weather system that will result in over nine inches of snow falling in a 24 hour period. During a heavy snow warning, chances are that the storm will primarily be characterized by snow, without freezing rain or sleet.

Blizzard Warning
A blizzard warning refers to a weather system that will result in blizzard conditions in a particular area. Visibility during a blizzard will usually be reduced to 1/4 mile or less, in addition to wind gusts sometimes exceeding 35mph. Other weather conditions that may occur ding a blizzard are heavy snow, blowing snow or drifting snow.

Blizzard Watch
During a blizzard watch, weather experts are around 50% confident that a weather system with blizzard conditions will affect a particular area. This may include heavy snow, high winds, drifting snow and reduced visibility.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

If you live in an area that is prone to heavy snowfall, you may already have some experience with severe winter weather. Winter snowstorms can create hazardous road conditions, bring down power lines and delay public transportation. In some cases, a severe storm may even make it near impossible for you to leave your home. To help to keep your family safe during a snowstorm, it’s important for you to be prepared. Getting your home and family ready for a severe snowstorm does not have to be a difficult task, and can be easily accomplished by following these simple steps.

Severe Snowstorm Preparation Step 1 – Watch the News
One of the best ways for you to prepare for a winter storm is to be adequately informed about the weather. As long as you have electricity in your home, be sure to get updates on any winter storms that will be affecting your area. Some storms can change in severity over the course of a few hours, so it’s essential that keep up to date with any changes in the weather forecast.

Severe Snowstorm Preparation Step 2 – Organize a Family Meeting.
Before the storm, it’s important for you to make a general “Disaster Plan” with your family. This may involve educating your children about where to meet in an emergency, or giving other members of your family instructions how to handle being stranded during a snowstorm. In addition to this, it’s also essential that you inform your family in advance of any severe winter storms predicted for your area. This can help you to keep all members of your family at home, and may also make the storm much less scary for younger children.

Severe Snowstorm Preparation Step 3 – Gather General Supplies.
Before a snowstorm hits your area, it’s important that you stock up on a few essential supplies. This can help ensure that if your family does become “snowed in”, you will be able to be comfortable until the storm has subsided. Though this is not a comprehensive list, some of the items that you will want to have on hand are:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-Powered Radio
• Bottled Water (At least a 3 day supply for your entire family)
• Extra Blankets and Sleeping Bags
• Fuel (for wood or gas-powered heating systems)
• Extra Prescription Medication and Baby Formula
• First-Aid Kit
• Fire Extinguisher
• Non-Perishable Food (At least a 3 day supply for your entire family)
• Matches and Long-Burning Emergency Candles
• Manual (not electric) Can Opener
• Snow Shovel

In addition to these items, it’s also recommended that you provide entertainment for the members of your family. Being stuck at home due to severe weather can be frightening, especially for younger children. Plan to play a family board game by candlelight, or purchase glow-in-the-dark paints for your children to play with during the storm. Even though a power outage during a storm can be scary, it can be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with the other members of your family.

Severe Snowstorm Preparation Step 4 – Preparing Your Vehicle.
Before a snowstorm, it’s also very important that you get all of your vehicles equipped to deal with severe weather. Even if you don’t plan to travel during winter weather, it’s still important to be sure that your vehicle can handle being exposed to inclement weather conditions. Some examples of things you can do to prepare your vehicle for a snowstorm are:

• Use dry gas in your vehicle’s gas tank. This will prevent the gas line from freezing.
• Purchase snow tires.
• Keep extra blankets, dry food, water and an emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle.
• Be sure that your vehicle is parked in an area where it will not be damaged by passing plow trucks.

If you do have to travel, you can read these Winter Driving Safety Tips for how to maintain control of your vehicle during hazardous road conditions. For a more comprehensive explanation of winter vehicle maintenance, you can also refer to these 5 Essential Winter Vehicle Safety Tips.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In the winter months, it can be easy to forget to pay attention to keeping your home secure. However, though inclement weather may seem discouraging to you, it does not prevent many criminals from taking advantage of people’s homes during the winter months. For the total amount of burglaries in 2005, 69% of those involved theft from residential property. In those residential burglaries, most of the burglars spent less than 60 seconds breaking in to a home. Even during the winter, your home’s security should be a subject that you pay close attention to. Here are some general tips that will help you in keeping your home safe and secure for your family.

Plow Your Driveway
It’s highly recommended that you arrange for your driveway to be plowed on a regular basis. This is not only important for your own personal safety, but can also help to discourage burglars as well. If you are absent for a long period of time, an unplowed driveway may be a sign to burglars that your house is deserted.

Mark Your Valuables
A good habit to get into is to write your postal code with a security marker on your valuable electronics, keepsakes and other items. Keep a running inventory of these objects, updating it as necessary. This way, if the police recover stolen goods, they have the ability to return them directly to you (as long as you reported them missing). This is a precautionary measure, but should be followed nonetheless.

Check Your Outdoor Security Equipment
If you have security lighting, motion sensors or other equipment installed outdoors, it’s best if you test this equipment on a regular basis. Severe weather can damage or destroy outdoor equipment, and you may not notice until it is too late. If possible, check to see that any security equipment you purchase is rated for outdoor use.

Purchase a Lock Defroster
In order to avoid being kept out of your home or car by a frozen lock, always keep a high-quality lock defrosting device close at hand. These devices may be battery-operated, or may simply be a tube of liquid that can be used to melt the ice inside your lock. Most lock defrosters are relatively inexpensive, and can fit easily in a purse or handbag.

Protect Your Home
Purchasing a security system is important at any time of year, as it is a great step towards increasing your home’s overall level of security. You can follow this Step by Step Guide to choosing a home security system, which will help you to decide on a level of protection that is right for your home. Depending on your needs, you may find that having a home security system gives you a sense of reassurance that your home is under constant protection.