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How to Prepare For a Winter Storm in 9 Steps

How to Prepare For a Winter Storm in 9 steps

When preparing your home for winter, one of the most important things you can consider is how to prepare for a winter storm.

The snow that comes during winter months can be pretty magical. But if there’s an excess of snow and you need to hunker down during inclement weather, you’ll want to ensure you are prepared.

We understand how overwhelming that can feel, so we’ve put together this guide on preparing for a winter storm. Let’s dive in!

1.Create an Emergency Kit

First things first, you will want to take some time to create a winter preparedness emergency kit. If possible, we recommend keeping one in your home and one in each vehicle in case you get stuck somewhere on the road. 

According to the Red Cross, some items you will want to have in your emergency kit include: 

  • Bottled water.
  • Easy to prepare food.
  • A flashlight (including extra batteries).
  • A simple first aid kit.
  • Your cell phone and a charger.
  • Cash.
  • Baby and pet supplies if needed.
  • A multi-purpose tool.
  • Sanitation and hygiene supplies.
  • Warm winter clothing: coats, scarves, gloves, etc.

The quantity of each item will depend on your household size, so consider how many people live in your home when assembling your emergency kit for storm prep.

2.Fill All Your Perscriptions

The next thing you’ll want to do is fill all of your prescriptions. The hope is that you won’t be hunkering down in your home for too long, but there is a slight chance that you will not be able to get to your pharmacy.

You don’t want to find yourself without your medications if that happens. If a big winter storm is coming your way, part of your winter preparedness checklist must be to visit your pharmacy and fill up your prescriptions. It will give you a tremendous amount of peace of mind!

3.Buy Bottled Water and Stock Your Pantry

The worst-case scenario regarding water during a winter storm is that you won’t have access to it. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends having at least one gallon of water on hand for each person daily. 

Extreme weather can leave you without the luxury of running water, so keeping enough bottled water on hand is essential when considering how to prepare for a winter storm.

You’ll also want to be sure to stock your pantry with plenty of food. Consider what kind of meals you could prepare if the power goes out. A pantry full of items that require a stove, oven, or microwave will not serve you well. Keep this in mind as you do your pre-storm grocery shopping.

4.Prep Your Vehicle

We’ve already covered having an emergency storm prep kit in your car, but there are a few other items you will want to check off your list for your vehicle to be completely prepared for a winter storm.

First, consider your tires. Check the tire tread, and give some thought to whether or not you should invest in winter tires. Make sure your tire pressure is where it needs to be. The ideal tire pressure is anywhere between 32 and 35 psi.

You’ll also want to change your oil, fill up your antifreeze, and ensure your heater is tip-top.

5.Create a Communication Plan

If our standard lines of communication go down, how do you plan to keep in touch with family and friends? Make a plan with your loved ones to ensure you’re keeping tabs on one another during the storm. You may also want to consider checking in on your neighbors to make sure they are well and have their storm prep taken care of.

6.Tend to Your Yard

Before the storm comes, you’ll want to assess your yard and see if anything needs to be trimmed back. The last thing you want is a tree branch through your window or a damaged roof, and setting aside an afternoon to tend to your trees will definitely prove to be worth the effort.

If you find that the trimming requires professional attention, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone. Your home and nearby powerlines deserve attention when preparing your home for winter!

7.Prepare Your Pipes

We’ve talked about water multiple times in this blog, and for a good reason; it’s one of the most essential commodities any day of the year, but especially during a storm. This is primarily because if temperatures drop to a certain temperature for more than four hours, your pipes are at risk of freezing, keeping you from accessing your water.

The solution is pretty simple – let cold water drip from the faucets. That’s right, turn the water on where it’s just a trickle, and that will do! Running water is much less likely to freeze, so this is definitely something you’ll want to take care of with your winter preparedness.

8.Have Your Winter Gear Handy

Hopefully, the power doesn’t go out, but if it does, you’ll want to be sure to have plenty of winter gear ready and accessible in your home. For each member of your family, make sure you have the following:

  • A winter coat.
  • Gloves or mittens.
  • A scarf.
  • A hat.
  • Earmuffs.
  • Thick socks.
  • Boots.

Outside of storm prep, this is something that you will want to have on hand once the temperatures start dropping, making it an easy item to check off your list when preparing your home for winter.

9.Stay Safe

And last but certainly not least, stay safe. Use your emergency kits, implement your communication plans, and stay inside during the storm. No winter storm will last forever, and there are very few things that are worth putting your life in danger. Stay inside and stay safe!

Restoremasters Has Your Back After a Winter Storm

You can do everything right to prepare for a winter storm, but there are still unknowns. If you find that you require some home restoration after a winter storm, Restoremasters has your back! The stress and anxiety accompanying a serious winter storm can be heavy, but if they’re accompanied by a flood or wind damage, that’s a whole other level of worry.

Let our experienced team take that weight off your shoulders. Located in Sandy, we happily serve those in the Salt Lake Valley and Utah Valley with their restoration needs. Contact us today to get more information!

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