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:
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Flashlight and extra batteries
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Battery-Powered Radio
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Bottled Water (At least a 3 day supply for your entire family)
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Extra Blankets and Sleeping Bags
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Fuel (for wood or gas-powered heating systems)
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Extra Prescription Medication and Baby Formula
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First-Aid Kit
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Fire Extinguisher
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Non-Perishable Food (At least a 3 day supply for your entire family)
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Matches and Long-Burning Emergency Candles
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Manual (not electric) Can Opener
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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.
Related posts:
- An Explanation of Winter Weather Safety Advisories
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...
