Protect Your Home from Winter Storms

Winter storms can be dangerous for several reasons:

• Heavy snowfall can create hazardous driving conditions and make it difficult to travel on foot. Snow can also accumulate on roofs and cause collapses, as well as down power lines and disrupt electricity.
• Winter storms can also bring strong winds that can cause power outages, uproot trees, and damage buildings and infrastructure.
• Freezing rain, sleet, and ice storms can create extraordinarily slippery and dangerous conditions on roads and sidewalks, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
• Extreme cold temperatures associated with winter storms can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other health problems if proper precautions are not taken.
• Winter storms can also significantly disrupt transportation and other essential services, such as food, water, and medical supplies. They can also cause significant economic losses, such as damage to crops, livestock, and property.

It’s important to be prepared for winter storms by having emergency supplies, staying informed about weather conditions, and following any instructions or evacuation orders from local authorities.

Winter storms can be dangerous for several reasons.

Heavy snowfall can create hazardous driving conditions and make it difficult to travel on foot. Snow can also accumulate on roofs and cause collapses, as well as down power lines and disrupt electricity.

Winter storms can also bring strong winds that can cause power outages, uproot trees, and damage buildings and infrastructure.

Freezing rain, sleet, and ice storms can create extraordinarily slippery and dangerous conditions on roads and sidewalks, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.

Extreme cold temperatures associated with winter storms can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other health problems if proper precautions are not taken.

Winter storms can also significantly disrupt transportation and other essential services, such as food, water, and medical supplies. They can also cause significant economic losses, such as damage to crops, livestock, and property.

It’s important to be prepared for winter storms by having emergency supplies, staying informed about weather conditions, and following any instructions or evacuation orders from local authorities.

Wind chill is the measure of how cold the air feels on exposed skin due to the combination of temperature and wind speed. As wind speed increases, it removes heat from the body at a faster rate, making the air feel colder than it actually is.

The wind chill temperature is not the actual temperature of the air but rather the temperature that the body perceives it to be.

Wind chill is a crucial factor to consider when preparing for outdoor activities in cold weather. Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and wind chill can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other cold-related illnesses. It’s essential to dress in warm layers, cover exposed skin, and limit time spent outdoors during extreme cold and windy conditions.

Preparing in advance gives you a big advantage when a storm hits. Here’s what you should do:

• Insulate pipes, windows, and doors to keep heat in and cold out.
• Stock up on essentials: food, water, batteries, flashlights, and blankets.
• Make sure you have a working backup heating option (e.g., a wood stove or generator), and know how to use it safely.
• Clear your gutters and roof of debris so snow and ice can’t build up and create damage.
• Trim tree branches near your home so falling snow or ice won’t bring them down.
• Create an emergency plan: know how you’ll communicate, relocate if needed, and access key items quickly.

These steps can reduce the chance of major damage, help keep your family safe, and make you less vulnerable if utilities go out.

A power outage in freezing conditions can become a serious hazard, but you can take effective actions:

• Stay inside, and keep the doors and windows closed. Use blankets and warm clothing to retain heat. Avoid wet clothing as much as possible. 
• If you have a generator, use it outside and away from windows to avoid carbon-monoxide risk.
• Turn off or unplug major electronics to avoid a surge when power returns. Leave a light on so you know when power has come back.
• Use battery-powered lighting instead of candles.
• Monitor weather reports with a battery-powered radio or your mobile device (if charged and safe to use).
• If temperatures inside drop near freezing, move into one well-insulated room and concentrate heat there.

Taking these steps can help you maintain safety and comfort until power is restored.

Frozen pipes can burst and cause major damage. Protect them with these actions:

• Let a slow drip run from faucets connected to exposed pipes. Moving water won’t freeze easily.
• Open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air from your home can circulate around pipes.
• Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces like basements, attics, garages, or crawl spaces.
• Seal any leaks that allow cold air into your home near where pipes are located.
• If you plan to be away, set your thermostat no lower than 55 °F to keep the internal temperature safe for pipes.

By taking these precautions, you can reduce the risk of burst pipes and the water damage that often follows.