what to do to prepare for ice storm

To prepare for an ice storm, focus on three things: staying safe at home, keeping warm if power goes out, and being ready to stay put for several days.

Before the ice storm

• Stock at least 3 days of drinking water (about 4 L per person per day) and non‑perishable food that does not require cooking, plus pet food if needed.

• Prepare an emergency kit: flashlights with extra batteries, battery or crank radio, basic first‑aid supplies, necessary medications, power banks for phones, and important documents in a waterproof pouch.

• Charge all devices fully and pre‑download offline entertainment (books, podcasts, kids’ shows) in case you lose internet and power.

Protect your home

• Bring in or secure outdoor items (grills, patio furniture, decorations) so they are not damaged by ice or blown into windows.

• Have ice‑melt (rock salt), sand, or non‑clumping kitty litter plus a good shovel ready to treat steps, walkways, and driveways for traction.

• Protect pipes: let faucets drip when temps drop below freezing and open cabinet doors under sinks so warm air can reach pipes; if you expect a long outage and deep cold, consider shutting off the main valve and draining pipes to avoid bursts.

Plan for heat and light

• Arrange at least one safe alternative heat source (properly vented fireplace, wood stove, or generator) and know how to use a fire extinguisher; never use grills, camp stoves, or generators indoors because of carbon monoxide risk.

• Add layers: keep extra blankets, sleeping bags, thermal clothing, hats, mittens, and thick socks easily accessible for everyone in the household.

• Close curtains and doors to unused rooms and use towels or draft stoppers along doors and windows to keep heat in if the power fails.

Vehicles and staying off roads

• Top off your gas tank before the storm and check winter tires; keep an emergency car kit with blankets, water, snacks, flashlight, and kitty litter for traction if you absolutely must drive.

• Avoid driving during the ice storm; roads can become dangerously slick very quickly, and staying home is usually much safer.

Food and fridge safety

• Before the storm, set your fridge to about 4 °C and your freezer to at or below −18 °C, then avoid opening doors if power goes out so food stays safe longer.

• Know that a closed fridge can usually keep food cold for around 4 hours, and a full freezer can hold safe temperatures roughly 48 hours if kept shut.

TL;DR: For what to do to prepare for ice storm , build a 3‑day home kit, protect pipes and walkways, arrange safe backup heat, charge devices, avoid driving, and keep your fridge and freezer cold by minimizing openings until power returns.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.