How to Prepare Your Home for a Winter Storm

Winter storms can be dangerous and damaging if you are unprepared. When the temperature starts to drop, it's time to think about getting ready.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Batteries
• Portable Radios
• Candles
• Sand
• Space Heaters
• Rock Salt
• Snow Shovels
• Flashlights

1. Bring any outdoor furniture inside (unless it is extremely durable). You can store it in your garage, basement or storage shed.
2. Remove any outdoor items that can be blown around by the wind and may possibly damage your house.
3. Consider whether any dead trees might be a hazard to your house if they were to fall. You may want to have them removed by a professional tree service.
4. Make sure that you have flashlights, with extra batteries, and candles to provide light during a power failure.
5. Keep some extra bottles of drinking water on hand. If you have a well with an electric pump (and will thus lose all water during a power failure), prepare some tubs of water for cleaning and toilet flushing. You may want to fill the bathtub when a storm is coming.
6. Have a battery-operated radio in the house.
7. Stock up on rock salt and sand for dealing with icy and slippery driveways and sidewalks.
8. Make sure that you have good snow shovels ready.
9. Arrange in advance for snow-plowing service - it is very difficult to book a snow-plowing service the day after a big snowstorm.
10. Keep a space heater and fuel in the garage if you live in a particularly cold area - especially if you have electrical heat in the house.
11. Keep food in the house that you can prepare without electricity. Note that your needs will vary depending on the type of appliances you have (gas or electric).

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