Winter Weather Emergencies: The Risks and How to Prepare at Home and on the Road

Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds, and staying safe and warm can be hard.

What can go wrong

• cold-related illness, including frostbite and hypothermia;
• house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces;
• dangerous driving on icy roads;
• power cuts and loss of communication;
• floods when the snow and ice melt.

Preparing

A disaster plan should include:

• important phone numbers, including your health care providers, pharmacy and veterinarian;
• a family communication plan;
• how you will get reliable information during the storm.

Your home:

• keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, and learn how to stop pipes from freezing;
• gather supplies in case you are stuck at home for several days without power;
• if you will use a fireplace or wood stove for emergency heat, have the chimney or flue inspected every year;
• install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector.

Your car, if you must travel — an emergency kit with:

• an ice scraper and a shovel;
• cat litter or sand for traction;
• water and snacks, and extra warm clothing;
• jumper cables;
• a first aid kit with any medicines you need, and a pocketknife;
• a battery-powered radio, a flashlight and spare batteries;
• emergency flares or distress flags;
• waterproof matches and a can to melt snow for water.

Afterwards

Feeling stressed after a disaster is normal, and you may need help finding ways to cope.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Winter Weather Emergencies," drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://medlineplus.gov/winterweatheremergencies.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.