Winter Storms

Prepare for Winter Storms

Items to Keep at Home, Work & School

  • Baby items such as formula and diapers
  • Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and a portable radio.
  • Emergency heating source (fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.)
  • Extra food and water, manual can opener.
  • First aid supplies and extra medicine
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Medicines

Item to Keep in Cars & Trucks

  • A winter storm survival kit including:
    • Blankets/sleeping bags
    • Booster cables
    • Compass and road maps
    • Extra clothing
    • First-aid kit
    • Flashlight with extra batteries
    • Knife, high calorie, non-perishable food
    • Large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes
    • Matches and candles to melt snow for drinking water
    • Shovel
    • A smaller can and water
    • Tool kit
    • Tow rope
    • Water container
    • Windshield scraper

When Caught in a Winter Storm

At Home or in a Building

  • Stay inside
  • When using an alternative heat source, use fire safeguards and properly ventilate

If You Have No Heat

  • Close off unneeded rooms
  • Cover windows at night
  • Stuff towels or rags into cracks under doors
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing

If You Are in a Vehicle

  • Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm
  • Keep a window cracked to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked
  • Make yourself visible to rescuers: tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door; turn on dome light at night when running the engine; raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling
  • Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat
  • Stay in your vehicle unless shelter can be seen just yards away, disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold

If You Are Outside

  • Cover all exposed parts of the body
  • Do not eat snow. Melt it into water
  • Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm
  • Find shelter
  • If no shelter is available, prepare a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection
  • If possible, build a fire for heat and to attract attention
  • Try to stay dry