For a winter storm, you need to be ready to stay home safely for several days, possibly without power, heat, or the ability to drive. That means preparing your home, a supplies kit, and a backup plan for extreme cold.

Home and safety basics

  • Seal drafts around windows and doors and close off unused rooms to conserve heat.
  • Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and have extra batteries on hand.
  • Know how to safely shut off water if pipes freeze and where your main electrical panel is.

Essential supplies kit

  • Water: at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days or more.
  • Food: non‑perishable items (canned foods, nut butters, energy bars) that you can eat without cooking.
  • Light and power: flashlights or LED lanterns, extra batteries, and a charged power bank for phones. Avoid using candles if possible due to fire risk.
  • Heat and warmth: extra blankets, sleeping bags, and layers of warm clothing (thermal base layer, sweater, insulated coat, hat, gloves, warm socks).
  • Health: a well‑stocked first‑aid kit and at least a week of prescription medications if you can manage it.

Staying warm and avoiding injury

  • Stay inside and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary during the height of the storm.
  • Watch for signs of hypothermia (confusion, slurred speech, extreme shivering) and frostbite (numb, pale, or hard skin on fingers, toes, nose, ears). Seek medical help if symptoms appear.
  • If you use a fireplace, wood stove, or generator, keep it properly ventilated and never run a generator indoors or in an attached garage because of carbon monoxide risk.

Car and “go” kit

  • Keep your gas tank at least half full and store an ice scraper, small shovel, jumper cables, and traction material like sand or cat litter in the car.
  • Add blankets, spare hats and gloves, some non‑perishable snacks, water, and a phone charger to your vehicle kit in case you get stranded.
  • Carry roadside reflectors or flares and a bright flag or sign to signal for help if needed.

After the storm

  • Shovel snow slowly, take breaks, and avoid heavy lifting if you have heart or breathing problems; overexertion in the cold can trigger heart attacks.
  • Use ice melt or sand on steps and walkways to prevent falls, and stay away from downed power lines or damaged trees and report them to local authorities.

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