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If you are in my section of the world, you are right in the middle of winter. And because of this, I have been thinking about having a plan for cold weather preparation.
This article will focus mainly on your home and vehicle. I hope to get your thinking about other items or ideas you can also add to this list. At the end of this article, please leave a comment to help others out.
Now that is out of the way, Let’s get started!
For Your Home
Getting your home ready for the cold and wet season is extremely important if you don’t do this or have not thought about it.
One of the worst things that can happen is having a pipe burst due to freezing temperatures. Some protection tips for doing when it’s a beautiful day outside, for your home include:
- Outside your home:
- Start by trimming the trees and shrubs. It’s essential to keep them away from your home (this will also help from bringing unwanted guests into your home, like insects and bugs).
- Next, take a look at your gutters and storm drains. Make sure they are clear from all the sticks and leaves too!
- Now is an excellent time to clean up all your trimmed and taken out of the gutters and drains.
- Check the weather stripping and caulk to make sure there are no gaps or leaks.
- Side note, do you have a chimney? Have you had it inspected recently? Having your fireplace and chimney checked once a year might be a good idea. If you do not know where to go, contact your local fire department to see if they have any suggestions.
- Other items to keep a lookout on:
- Keep an eye on water levels, as it is crucial if you live in areas known for flooding or live near other significant water sources.
- Inside your home:
- Make sure you have copies of your essential documents (I use a USB drive) and keep them somewhere safe (a safe deposit box is one idea, or even someone you trust).
- I like to have extra supplies and emergency kits in various locations (and even easy to grab plastic bins), I keep them at home, in a go-bag, in my vehicle, and even at work. Some items include warm and dry clothing, hats, gloves, blankets, non-perishable food, something to filter water with, and clothing that can be easily seen in the dark.
- Side note, where I live, we are on daylight savings time. I also use this time to change the batteries in all my smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Your Vehicle
A simple fact is that not many people read their vehicle manuals.
Due to that reason, you might not have done the essential maintenance that your vehicle needs.
At the minimum, do the basics to help your vehicle out.
Today is an excellent time to make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter months.
Have you had your oil changed, tires rotated, brakes or battery checked in the last four months?
If you haven’t done this routine work, have someone else take a look at it.
Most auto shops will also make sure your vehicle is safe to use and will not fail when you need it most.
It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your weather. If there is a storm in the forecast, it is best to avoid traveling.
There are times when you don’t have a choice. In these cases, making sure that your vehicle is ready is the key to safe travel. Having a vehicle kit and watching the forecast are also vital tips when you have to travel.
Even simple things such as having emergency food and extra water supply (both at home and in your vehicle) while traveling will assist you and others with you too.
Something I have been doing for years is always to keep my vehicle above half a tank of gas.
I live in an area that is known for fires as well as constant power outages. Always remembering my vehicle has enough gas to get me out of a dangerous area helps with stress management 🙂
Your Family – You Better Have a Plan!
I have written in the past, but please always remember the extensions of your family, PETS! If you have pets, make sure you have a first aid kit for them too!
If you can, and it’s cold outside, consider bringing them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they have access to unfrozen water.
Find phone numbers for your physician, pediatrician, pharmacist, and veterinarian.
Please take note of the below resources. I provided their websites as well.
Other significant numbers you should know include:
- Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222
- Animal Poison Control Helpline: 888-426-4435
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
Not only should you have all the items you and your family members need.
Keep in mind to have a First aid kit with any necessary medications. This will also help you have tools you might need (like a pocket knife).
Are You Prepared?Â
We all want to ensure we are prepared for anything in life (click here for more posts on this topic).
This is yet another example of what we can do to help prepare. As with most of my articles, I want to get a conversation going with you! I would like to hear what you have to say on this topic.
Do you have any other suggestions or comments? We would love to hear about them, so please leave a comment below! I hope that together we can learn and grow.
Do you have any friends or loved ones that could benefit from this information? Please feel free to share it with them.
We aim to ensure everyone has the knowledge and resources they need.
Thanks for stopping by!