Snow and ice preparedness:
Is your home prepared for winter? Severe winter storms produce conditions which can isolate you in your home for several days. Prolonged loss of power and telephone services can limit your ability to heat your home and call for help. In severe winter storms, obtaining supplies, food and other necessities can be hampered or prevented by poor road conditions.
Stock an emergency 3-5-day supply of food and water prior to the onset of a winter storm. Include food items which require no cooking such as canned meats, peanut butter and other non-perishables. Also do not forget to have necessary medicines and baby items on hand. Also make sure you have a manual can opener.
Keep an adequate supply of heating fuel (firewood, kerosene, etc.) at your home.
Keep on hand a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra batteries, and a first aid kit.
Prevent water pipes from freezing by wrapping them with insulation or newspaper covered with plastic. In really cold weather, let your faucets drip slightly to help avoid freezing.
Keep generators well away from the home. Never run a generator in your garage or any other enclosed area. Carbon monoxide from the exhaust of the generator can be a silent killer. Also make sure your generator is properly wired to your home. Never heat your home using a charcoal grill, gas grill or camp stove. Grills and camp stoves create deadly carbon monoxide fumes that will build up when used in your home. Always use grills outside.
Due to the use of alternative heating sources, house fires can be a real danger during winter storms, so make sure that every family member knows how to evacuate the home in the event of a fire and make sure all smoke detectors are working properly and have fresh batteries.