Winter Storms
Prepare for Winter Storms
Items to Keep at Home, Work & School
- Baby items such as formula and diapers
- Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and a portable radio.
- Emergency heating source (fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.)
- Extra food and water, manual can opener.
- First aid supplies and extra medicine
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Medicines
Item to Keep in Cars & Trucks
- A winter storm survival kit including:
- Blankets/sleeping bags
- Booster cables
- Compass and road maps
- Extra clothing
- First-aid kit
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Knife, high calorie, non-perishable food
- Large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes
- Matches and candles to melt snow for drinking water
- Shovel
- A smaller can and water
- Tool kit
- Tow rope
- Water container
- Windshield scraper
When Caught in a Winter Storm
At Home or in a Building
- Stay inside
- When using an alternative heat source, use fire safeguards and properly ventilate
If You Have No Heat
- Close off unneeded rooms
- Cover windows at night
- Stuff towels or rags into cracks under doors
- Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing
If You Are in a Vehicle
- Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm
- Keep a window cracked to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
- Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked
- Make yourself visible to rescuers: tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door; turn on dome light at night when running the engine; raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling
- Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat
- Stay in your vehicle unless shelter can be seen just yards away, disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold
If You Are Outside
- Cover all exposed parts of the body
- Do not eat snow. Melt it into water
- Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm
- Find shelter
- If no shelter is available, prepare a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection
- If possible, build a fire for heat and to attract attention
- Try to stay dry