Another storm is on its way, so make sure you know how to keep yourself safe. Some states are encouraging everyone to stay home—so make sure you’ve got what you need.
-Stock up on food. You don’t need an apocalypse-level supply of food, just make a list for 1-2 weeks of groceries. In fact, now’s a great time to try some freezer meal recipes (check out pinterest for ideas—you pre-chop your meat and veggies, organize them in a freezer bag with the recipe written in sharpie on the outside, then layer them in the fridge). Bread may be going for ten times it’s normal price, so consider giant bags of rice and beans instead.
-Fill any prescriptions early, make sure you have enough to get through the storm.
-Don’t forget to stock your car—just through some water bottles, granola bars, etc. in your trunk. Add one blanket per person usually in the car, and consider adding a flare (flares and other items are often in all-purpose car emergency kits).
-If you get caught outside, watch for signs of frostbite. Itching, change in color, then hardness are the early signs. If you get blisters, just leave them. If you can’t get to a doctor and need to warm up, a warm bath is safest (NOT blankets or sitting in front of a fireplace).
-Anticipate outages. Get a few pallets of bottled water in case the pipes freeze or there’s another service disruption. You can protect your own pipes by leaving a slight drip and leaving cabinets open. Similarly, make sure you’ve got flashlights, batteries, and an extra battery for your phone.
-Weather proof your house ahead of time, that way if the power goes out you won’t freeze! It’s pretty cheap to pick up some saran-wrap like coverings to insulate your windows, as well as weather stripping around doors.
We’ve also got tips on shoveling and pets, for those with more mild snow headed your way.
Winter is coming. Are you prepared for snow?
