Winter storms rarely surprise anyone completely, because forecasters usually see them coming days ahead. The trouble is that ice and heavy snow can knock out power and close roads at the same time, so you may need to stay home for a while. A little prep in the fall makes that much easier. Here's a checklist based on Ready.gov, the National Weather Service and the Red Cross.
Know the alerts
Know the difference between a watch and a warning. According to Ready.gov, a Winter Storm Watch alerts the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet. A Winter Storm Warning is issued when that hazardous weather is imminent or already happening, usually 12 to 24 hours before the storm is expected to begin. For your local forecast, check the National Weather Service winter safety page. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone and consider a NOAA Weather Radio with a battery backup.
Before the season: the house checklist
- Weatherproof. Ready.gov suggests insulation, caulking and weather stripping to keep heat in.
- Protect your pipes. Ready.gov says to learn how to keep pipes from freezing.
- Install CO alarms. Ready.gov recommends smoke alarms and battery-backed carbon monoxide detectors. Winter is when people bring heaters and generators into play.
- Get heating equipment checked. The CDC recommends having your heating system, water heater and other gas-, oil- or coal-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year, and having your chimney checked or cleaned every year.
Apartment checklist
You may not control the building's heat or pipes, but you can still prepare:
- Ask building management about their winter outage and frozen-pipe plans.
- Keep warm layers, blankets or sleeping bags for everyone.
- Store water at one gallon per person per day for several days. If the building's pumps lose power, the taps on upper floors may stop working.
- Keep a compact kit: flashlights, a radio, a power bank, food and a first aid kit.
- Never use a grill, camp stove or generator on a balcony or inside. These belong outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows.
Supplies to have on hand
- Water and several days of non-perishable food
- Flashlights and extra batteries, with no candles if you can avoid them (Red Cross)
- A battery-powered or hand-crank radio (Ready.gov kit list)
- Warm clothing, hats, gloves and blankets
- Prescriptions and a first aid kit
- A charged power bank
- Pet supplies (Ready.gov)
- A car kit if you have to drive. Ready.gov recommends a kit in your car in case you get stranded.
During the storm
- Stay off the roads if you can. Ready.gov's advice is to stay off roads if at all possible.
- Watch for frostbite and hypothermia. Ready.gov lists the signs of frostbite as numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, and firm or waxy skin. Its signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands and memory loss. The Red Cross adds drowsiness and slurred speech, and says to seek emergency medical care right away for hypothermia.
- Don't overexert yourself shoveling. Ready.gov advises you to reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow. The Red Cross suggests taking frequent breaks and, if possible, working with a partner.
- Heat safely. Never use a gas stove or oven to heat your home (Ready.gov). Keep space heaters away from anything that can burn and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If the power goes out
Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Food stays cold for about four hours in a closed fridge and about 48 hours in a full freezer. Close off rooms you don't need and gather everyone in one room with layers and blankets. If it gets too cold to stay, local officials often open warming locations, so check their announcements. Report the outage to your utility and check its outage map for updates.
A word on generators
If you use a portable generator, run it outside only. The CDC says never to use a generator inside your home or garage, even with doors and windows open, and the CPSC adds crawlspaces and sheds to that list. Ready.gov says generators and fuel should be at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages. The CDC calls carbon monoxide an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death and recommends a battery-powered or battery backup CO detector in your home whenever you use a generator. Ready.gov says to let the generator cool before refueling. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. The CPSC calls this "backfeeding" extremely dangerous: it creates an electrocution risk for utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer, and it bypasses some of your home's built-in circuit protection. If you want a generator connected to your home's wiring, talk to a licensed electrician about a properly installed transfer switch. That's not a DIY job.
After the storm
Once the storm passes, check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone living alone. Stay away from fallen power lines, which the Red Cross warns can electrocute you, and watch for falling branches and ice. When the power comes back, Ready.gov says to throw out food that has been at 40°F or above for two hours or more. Plug appliances back in one at a time, and restock anything you used from your kit so it's ready for the next storm.
Get ahead of it
The best time to prepare for a winter storm is a quiet weekend in the fall. Work through this list and fill in what's missing. If you want a head start, our Premium Power Outage Kit covers outage basics, the 4-Person 72-Hour Emergency Kit covers a family for a few days at home, and the 2-Person 72-Hour Emergency Kit fits apartment closets well. Add warm layers and your medications, and you'll be in good shape.