WHEN WINTER COMES TO TOWN
It's that time of year when Old Man Weather is gonna come knocking. The southeast may or may not be getting snow. It may or may not rain some with it. Then there is always the, we "may or may not" get crippling ice. Basically, the weathermen are even having a hard time predicting this one. But don't worry, meteorologists may be scratching their heads. I feel sure John Q. Public on Facebook will give you their version of the forecast. (Yes, a little sarcasm intended.)
But no matter which forecast you believe, it never hurts to be prepared. Someone shared it on FB but didn't say where it came from. I didn't write it and and don't own the rights to it. But maybe they won't care if I share it.
Here are some things you might want to make note of so you are not caught unaware.
A flashlight
When winter
storms are at their worst, they sometimes knock out your electricity. You will
want to preserve your cell phone battery, so invest in a flashlight (or
several!) to hold onto at all times. A few candles won't hurt either (and give
a nice ambiance post-sunset), but flashlights or portable lanterns are
definitely safer.
Batteries
Your
battery-operated safety devices (like your flashlight and radio) are no good if
they don't have their source of electricity.
A first-aid kit
Just in case
you get stuck in your house — and can't make it to a hospital in case of an
accident — make sure you have one of these safety kits that contains all of the
essentials.
Extra
blankets for warmth
Also, file warm
jackets, hats, gloves, and really anything that will keep you toasty warm in
the event that the power (and your heat!) go out under this category.
A full week
of medications
Since not
taking your medicine could have extreme consequences, you should keep up to
seven days worth of meds on-hand before a storm (or really ever). The American
Red Cross also recommends stocking up on any additional
health-related items, like contact lenses, syringes, or hearing aids with extra
batteries.
Copies of
personal documents
This includes
medication and pertinent medical information, proof of address, the lease or
deed for your home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, credit
cards, and social security cards.
A backup
power generator
While pricey,
generators are your best bet when you lose power, since they can keep your
water hot, your fridge cold, and your heat on even if a winter storm knocks out
your electricity.
A three-day
supply of non-perishable food
Think: canned
food, peanut butter, all the usual suspects. But Sharon Franke, Director of the
Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, also
recommends uncut fruit and shelf-stable milk from Horizon Dairy, because they
don't require refrigeration.
A three-day
supply of water
Bostrom warns
that sometimes your water supply can be compromised or contaminated during a
heavy storm or bad weather — so keep extra water on hand as a back-up. The
American Red Cross recommends one gallon per person.
A
non-electric can opener
Because what
good is your can of corn if you can't open it?
Pet food and
supplies
Animals have to
eat, too! Make sure you have at least a three-day
supply of food for your pet and anything else they might need
while you're stuck at home, like a collar, leash, ID, carrier, or bowl.
A cooler
filled with ice
If you don't
have a backup generator, you should keep a cooler filled with ice on-hand so
you can put refrigerated food in it to keep it cold if the power goes out and
won't be back on again for more than four hours, according to the United State
Department of Agriculture.
pearls.jpg)
.jpg)
