Blizzard Conditions Are Slamming the West and Midwest—Here’s How to Stock Your Home To Ride Out the Storms
The National Weather Service (NWS) is issuing winter storm warnings, watches, or advisories for 15 states starting today, Tuesday, Feb. 17, and continuing through Thursday, Feb. 19. Heavy snow, ice, and low visibility are headed for several areas of the U.S., with California expected to get hit particularly hard. Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, and Wisconsin are also expected to face severe winter weather this week.
The NWS warns that in California, “a series of Pacific frontal systems will bring heavy mountain snow to the state through mid-week. Impacts are expected to be extreme across the Sierra Nevada, and travel will be extremely dangerous or impossible.” The central coast and parts of Southern California will also get storms on Thursday.
If inclement weather is coming to your region, it's important to be prepared. Here's what you can do to ready your home and vehicle to keep your family safe during these storms.
Protect Your Home From Blowing Snow and Ice
Take these steps to prep your home for winter weather and prevent damage. They'll also help you stay safe and warm as you wait out the storms.
- Apply weather stripping and draft blockers around windows and doors.
- Winterize outdoor faucets and apply hose bibb insulators to avoid burst pipes.
- Invest in a good shovel or gas-powered snow blower (and stock up on gas).
- Buy a roof rake to remove snow from your home and prevent roof collapse, leaks, and gutter ice dams.
- Apply ice melt to sidewalks, driveways, and steps before the snow starts to fall. This prevents build-up and makes accumulation easier to clear later on.
- Keep indoor faucets going at a slow drip to avoid freezing pipes.
Related: Single-Stage vs Two-Stage Snow Blowers: Which One Should You Buy?
Pack an Emergency Kit for Your House
If you end up snowed in or stuck at home without power, you'll want to be prepared. An emergency kit can help you ride out a storm when you can’t get to stores for additional supplies. This is what the American Red Cross recommends keeping in your home emergency kit:
- Enough food, water, and medicine for every person and pet in your home to be comfortable for the storm’s duration. Plan to have at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day. It’s also a good idea to have a one-month supply of needed medications and medical supplies. Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you.
- Enough warm clothing, such as hats, mittens, and blankets, for everyone in your household.
- Critical backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)
- First-aid kit
- Battery-powered radio
- Personal, financial, and medical records you may need to quickly access (hard copies or securely backed up versions).
- Snow shovel
- Ice-melting products
- High-visibility vest (to be seen while clearing snow)
It can also be helpful to organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home Kit, per the American Red Cross. Your Stay-at-Home Kit should have at least two weeks of supplies. Your Go-Kit should have at least three days of supplies you can carry with you if you need to go somewhere else to stay warm.
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Set up an Alternate Heating Source
Make sure you can heat your home without power.
- Purchase a battery-powered space heater (and ample batteries).
- If you have a fireplace, make sure you have wood chopped and readily available, along with fire starters.
- Check smoke detectors and ensure they have good batteries.
Related: How to Insulate Your Garage for Major Energy Savings This Winter
Build an Emergency Kit for Your Car
You should avoid traveling at all costs during severe winter weather. Still, it’s possible to get stuck in storms you didn’t expect, or have an emergency that requires you to drive. To make necessary car trips safer, equip your car with winter tires that can grip snow and ice (and make sure they’re not too old to do their job). Beyond that, you should have a safety kit in your car—it could save your life if you end up stranded on the side of the road. This is what the Canadian Automobile Association recommends keeping in your car at all times if you live in an area that experiences winter storms:
- Flashlight (preferably crank-type, because batteries don’t last long in extreme cold)
- Reflective safety triangles or flares
- Small first-aid kit
- Snow brush and scraper
- Traction aids
- Small shovel with long handle
- Bag of abrasive material: sand, cat litter (avoid road salt, which can cause your vehicle to rust)
- Plenty of windshield washer fluid
- Jumper cables (here’s a refresher on jumping a dead car battery)
- Gas-line antifreeze
- Lock de-icer (You can learn how to make your own here.)
- Paper towels
- Small tool kit (screwdriver, pliers, etc.)
- Extra fuses (for the vehicle’s electrical system)
- Warm blanket
- Extra socks, boots, and gloves
- Hand and foot warmers
- Bottles of water
- Granola bars
Look up Local Warming Centers
If you dial 211, you can find local warming shelters across the U.S. These places are typically public libraries and community centers that offer shelter in the event your home is too cold. It’s also smart to make plans with friends and neighbors in case you can’t travel far and need a warmer place to stay.
Related: How Cold Is Too Cold for a Propane Tank? Temperature Limits and Winter Storage Explained