Winter Weather Preparedness

Preparedness Tips

For yourself, you can:

• Check on elderly and disabled people living alone. Make sure they are prepared for winter conditions.
• Stock up on non-alcoholic beverages like tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soup.
• Maintain good nutrition and get plenty of rest.

At your home or business:

• Have your furnace and wall heaters checked by a professional for safety.
• Check all space heaters and keep them away from walls, curtains, and furniture.
• If you have a gas heater or any gas appliances, invest in a carbon monoxide detector. (Carbon monoxide kills about 300 people in the U.S. every year.)
• Replace the batteries in all of your smoke detectors and test the smoke alarms to make sure they work.
• Check the batteries in your NOAA Weather Radio.

Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter season begins:

• Give your vehicle a tune-up.
• Check the tires, brakes, and battery.
• Check the heating and defrosting system.
• Check your windshield wipers and keep your washer fluid full.
• Change the anti-freeze, if needed, to protect the engine and radiator from freezing in cold temperatures.
• Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
• Pack and carry a winter storm survival kit, including:
  • blankets or sleeping bags
  • additional warm clothing
  • a flashlight with extra batteries
  • a first-aid kit
  • a knife
  • high-calorie, non-perishable food such as candy bars
  • a small can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking
  • a bag of sand or cat litter
  • a shovel
  • a windshield scraper and brush
  • and booster cables

You may also consider carrying a portable NOAA weather radio in your vehicle to keep track of changing weather conditions when you are on-the-go.

Winter is just around the corner. Now is the time to get ready and avoid the last minute rush!

For free brochures on winter weather precautions and for more information on cold weather first aid, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross.