Survive Winter Weather by Being Prepared

Winter comes around every year, and with it comes the potential for severe winter weather.

While some winters may be mild, some winters will bring snow and ice with a vengeance. A little preparation ahead of time can help you and your family survive in the event of a severe storm.

We hear about it all the time: A winter weather advisory comes across the news and people began running to the nearest grocery store in a panic trying to stock up on food and necessary items.

That is the wrong time to prepare. The right time to prepare is in the spring, summer and fall - before an emergency arises.

So what should you plan to stock up on and store "just in case?"

1. A heat source. Without heat, food and other necessary supplies won't matter if you're snowed or iced in your home. Don't depend upon electric heat. Power outages for extended time periods are common in the winter as ice and snow break lines, can send a car careening into a power pole, damage transformers and generally wreak havoc. A kerosene heater, wood heater, or gas heater can mean the difference between surviving or freezing to death. The heater may not be large enough to keep your family comfortable, but it will keep you from freezing. Keep a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on hand to warn you of carbon monoxide poisoning when you use such heaters.

Be sure to have enough fuel to run the heater for a few days. Fuel to last for one week or more would be ideal.