If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, and above tropical
latitudes, it's time to prepare for winter emergencies.
In your car:
Get a safety check and top off all fluids
Check your wipers
Make sure you have your scraper/brush
In your trunk pack: blanket, battery operated radio, folding
shovel, first aid kit, a box of crackers or granola bars, flares, chains, bag of sand for traction, extra
socks, and flashlight (at the very least)
Don't let your fuel tank drop below 1/2 a tank
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| By Andre (Ice Storm 2009) , via Wikimedia Commons |
At home:
Winterize water pipes
Have furnace and chimney checked on a regular schedule
Have lanterns, flashlights, and battery-operated radios if
you lose power
Don't let your larder get too low--you may end up stuck for
a week at home and unable to get to grocery stores. Don't forget pet food!
A fresh trash can with animal-proof lid makes a good
emergency freezer in case of power outages. You can pull it outdoors, keep the
house warm with wood (if you have a stove or fireplace) and food will stay cold
if kept in the trash can outside in the shade next to the house. Be careful with
insulin--you want it cool but not frozen, so find a place near a window or in
the basement where you can keep it safely, should power go out for a long time
Keep the needs of elderly, disabled, and shut-in neighbors in mind. A good neighbor has saved many a life in a bad ice storm
