Staying Ready for Winter & Winter Disasters – A Checklist
When it comes to winter weather, you cannot make any accurate predictions. One day it will be snowing, and the next day it can turn into a blizzard that will last for several days. Every year, hundreds of people fall victim to winter injuries and accidents as the cold season bring in a lot of hazards with it. However, this can be prevented if you take care of yourself and your loved ones by preparing ahead of time.
Preparing for Winter Disasters
Let’s not deny the fact that it can be quite perplexing to stay warm during the winter weather. These blizzards or snowstorms bring a lot of problems with themselves like dipping temperature, loss of phone and internet signals, electricity outages, roadblocks, etc.
Hence, if you live somewhere with cold weather conditions, then you need to be equipped and stay prepared to deal with the situation.
Preparing a winter emergency kit as well as an emergency winter plan may assist you in avoiding hazardous winter situations in extreme weather conditions.
Winter Disaster Checklist
Number 1 – Always Have a Strategy
If you live in an area like Lansing, which is likely to get extreme winter conditions, then you have all the reasons to be prepared for the winters before it comes. Having a sound strategy will make things a whole lot easier for you and help you avoid stressful weather situations.
Number 2 – Insulate Your Home
By insulating your walls, checking them for any leakages, repairing weak roofs, and installing weather-proof material on them, you can ensure that there is no source of water to get inside your house.
If your home is surrounded by any trees or branches that you think will fall and damage your house in a winter storm, then you should get rid of them.
Besides checking leaky pipes, rooftops, and windows, you should also check your chimneys. Get yourself a credible inspector who can check your chimneys and let you know if they are in good condition.
Number 3 – Install a Smoke Detector
If you have decided to use a wood stove or fireplace when the snowstorm hits, then it will be a good idea to install a battery-operated smoke detector.
Once you have fixed it on the roof, you should check it once or twice in few months to see whether it is working fine.
Another great idea is to keep a fire extinguisher in the house in case if there is a fire hazard in the house.
There are lots of tutorials on the internet that can teach you about which extinguisher to keep in the house and how to use it.
Number 4 – Keep a Thermometer
A digital thermometer, along with a simple one, is a must-have item in your home, especially if you are afraid that a winter storm will hit your area.
Moreover, people living with elders (who are over 65 years) or toddlers (who are younger than three years) should have a working thermometer at all times. Because of their age, elders and toddlers are susceptible to getting allergies and colds.
Along with that, it is also advisable to keep cold and flu medicines at home. Just in case if someone gets sick and it is difficult to get them to the hospital, these medicines will temporarily give relief.
Number 5 – Prepare a Winter Home Kit
Be prepared with an emergency winter home kit. It should have winter clothes, blankets, medicines, bags of sands or rock salt, equipment to remove snow, and even fuel in case there is an electricity outage, broken heater, or longer duration of the storm.
Number 6 – Check Weather Forecasts
Use radio, television, or mobile phone to keep yourself aware of the weather forecast at all times to prepare better for your emergency supplies.
When you hear such forecasts, it is better to keep your pets indoors to avoid any casualties or accidents, as they are more common in such weather conditions.
Number 7 – Car Safety Checklist
Another fear concerning most people about the winter storms has their car break down. Here is a car safety checklist that you should keep in mind.
During the winter season, vehicle owners need to keep their vehicles’ radiator systems warm. They should get their cars checked by the mechanic or have the equipment and fuel needed to keep the car running.
Few important car parts that need to be checked to withstand the cold are breaks, windshields, car battery, ignition, heater, emergency flashers. In addition to that, if there is a need to replace tires, then they should install snow proof tires.
Keep additional fuel in case the winter storms make shops close down. The extra fuel will help in emergency situations.
Winter-Proof Your Home with 911 Restoration of Lansing
While you can follow the tips above to winter-proof your home and stay prepared for winter disasters, a better way to do this is by reaching out to a professional disaster restoration company like 911 Restoration of Lansing.
They have the experience and expertise to make sure your winter preparedness checklist is complete. At 911 Restoration of Lansing, the most extensive disaster management jobs are handled with perfection. So, what are you waiting for? Visit their website for more information about them and their home restoration services.
