5 Things to Stock Up On for Emergency Winter Weather

5 Things to Stock Up On for Emergency Winter Weather

Winter weather is intense, even in mid-Atlantic states like Maryland. When it comes to winter storms, anything is possible. The Weather Channel and other weather experts do their best to give you as much warning as possible before a massive winter storm hits, but they can’t always successfully predict which storm could leave you snowed in or cause your home to lose power.

It’s best to prepare for the worst ahead of time, so you can rest assured that you and your family will be safe. Here’s a helpful list of essential items you should stock up on and keep in your home emergency kit before the next winter storm hits.

Non-Electric Lighting

A bad winter storm could knock out the power in your home or send your home’s heating system into overdrive, resulting in damages or worse. To prepare for this, always keep several flashlights and candles packed in your home emergency kit. Stash a few lighters or matches as well, so you know you’ll be able to light the candles and stay warm while you wait for the power to go back on or for an available electrician to fix your heater or a fuel oil company to deliver oil for your oil burner before you run out.

The last thing you’ll want to do is spend several days without any lights or heat in your Maryland home during an unexpected winter storm.

Heavy Blankets

You might think you’re covered with the blankets you have in your home now, but that’s not the case when the heat in your home is no longer running. Purchase some heavy-duty blankets at your local store and store them at home for emergencies. You might even want to invest in a few space blankets to ward off potential hypothermia.

Nourishment

A severe snow storm, or even a lighter one like the one that hit Atlanta in early 2015, might leave you trapped in your home for several days this winter. Always keep three-days worth of canned goods, a non-electric can opener, and bottled water stored in the closet or basement of your home to prepare for this. Being snowed in with only a few snacks or perishable food items can quickly turn into a dangerous situation.

Battery-Powered Radio and Extra Batteries

Today, most people rely on their smartphones to give them important weather and news updates. When a severe winter storm hits, however, your smartphone’s battery could run out quickly leaving you no way of knowing when help will be there or when the storm will end.

Invest in a battery-powered radio and store several extra batteries with it in your emergency kit to make sure you have a way of staying connected even if your home loses power.

Winter in Maryland is often more mild, but you never know what mother nature will do next. If a bad storm hits, your home could be left without power or you might be trapped at home for several days. During these storms, temperatures can fall below freezing leaving you and your family susceptible to hypothermia and many other dangerous and life-threatening conditions or situations. Stock up on these essential items to make sure your family is safe at home this winter no matter what.