What You Need To Know For Winter Storm Preparedness

Winter preparedness is an important topic for Pennsylvania residents. This season can be particularly harsh in our region and you should be prepared for all possibilities.

Why You Should Prepare For Every Winter

The seasons of the year present distinct challenges. Summer heat can make comfort impossible without the right kind of ventilation or air conditioning. Spring and fall offer challenges with regard to pests and changing temperatures. Winter, though, may be the one season that presents the most difficulty and even danger for people living in Pennsylvania.

Imagining winter weather evokes all kinds of images involving snow piling up and frigid winds blowing over barren landscapes. While it is definitely worth preparing for these possibilities, you might overlook the certain fact of all winter weather in Pennsylvania: an unrelenting cold that will last for anywhere from several weeks to several months.

Important Items On Your Winter Preparedness Checklist

To avoid complications arising from inclement weather during the winter period, consider acquiring many if not all of the following items:

• Warm Clothing: Have warm underwear, coats and gloves handy.
• Water: You should have a three-day supply at minimum. Plan on one gallon per day for each person in your home.
• Install Weatherstripping: Be sure to install weatherstripping to keep the warm air inside of your home and the cold air out.
• Insulate Your Pipes: This will prevent your pipes from bursting which can cause major issues inside of your home.
• Food: Be sure to keep a supply of canned and boxed goods in case of a winter storm.
• First Aid Kit: Make sure you have a back-up supply of the medicines that you take regularly.
• Add Attic Insulation: The insulation in your attic helps reduce home heating costs and keeps the warm air inside of your home instead of escaping outdoors.
• Light Source: Keep flashlights and/or lanterns powered by batteries handy. Be sure to have a supply of the batteries that they require.
• Generator: This will supply power and electricity when there is a power outage in the middle of the winter. It is the easiest way to stay warm and not deal with the inconveniences associated of going without electricity. They are powered by propane or natural gas.

The Generator Is the Key To Winter Preparedness

If you have not experienced a hard winter in Pennsylvania before, you may be tempted to think that you can just tough out a power loss with some canned food and heavy clothing. Not only do you underestimate the effect of cold on your body, you misunderstand what the cold can do to your residence.

Choosing to let your house go cold after a power outage caused by snow or wind, you risk the very likely possibility that pipes will freeze and burst. Not only will this destroy a water supply, it will be very costly to repair when the storm has passed.

Furthermore, an unheated house will not melt accumulating snow and ice on the roof. In the right conditions, even over the course of just a few days without power, this could lead to a collapsing roof and many associated dangers.

You cannot over prepare for the winter but you should remember the fundamentals without which it will be hard to endure even a few days of power outages and isolation. Water and a reliable generator are probably the two key elements to any plan for winter preparedness. Choose from other necessary items as you think prudent.

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