How to Prepare for Nor'Easter

Last night we got about 5 inches of snow. That is about 2 inches more than what the forecasters were calling for. To a long-time resident of New York State, 5 inches of snow isn't much to worry about. It was nothing more than a nuisance. However, Saturday evening may turn out to be a major storm, dropping one to two feet of snow on my area. To add insult to injury, the snow will most likely turn to freezing rain, and a steep pressure gradient will produce very strong winds. A White Christmas indeed, but also a travel and safety nightmare!

For those that are new to the area and haven't faced extreme winter weather before, I have compiled a list of things to do to prepare for the storm:

The first thing to do, as you would in any extreme weather situation, is to make sure you have enough water. A gallon or two, per person, per day, is a good estimate. If you are afraid of running short, than fill up your bathtub before the storm hits. Remember that if the power goes out, the pump to your well won't work. You could always melt snow if you had to, but you don't really want to go outside in a blizzard unless you have no other choice. You can also use the water in the tub to flush your toilet.

Next, you need food. Head to the grocery store and pick up the basics. Make sure you have non-perishables available in case the power goes out for an extended time period. It would be a great idea to have a generator, but if the storm is only a day away, you may not have time for that. Remember that you will need either cans with "pop tops" or a manuel can opener. It won't do you much good to have food and no way to open it! Plan ahead for how you will heat your food. If you have an electric stove, you'll need to make other arrangements. A small camping stove can come in handy, but be extremely careful of fire, and only use it in a well ventilated area.