Are you ready for snow?  Most of us in the South are not.  We don’t always trust the weather forecasts. Most of the time, they are unpredictable and not accurate.  But, have you rushed to the store at the last minute to get items to stock up on?  I admit it! I have. So, here is a list of some items to prepare a Winter Survival Kit for your home.

  • Bottles of water
  • Flashlights (always keep fresh batteries around)
  • Dry wood for fireplace
  • Fire Extinguisher – If you keep a wood burning fire for the entire time, it’s best to keep one close by.
  • NOAA radio – get up to date information on weather and roads
  • Extra blankets and sleeping bags
  • First-Aid kit
  • Food items – Items that don’t require cooking (canned food, bread crackers, dried fruits, snacks, etc.)
  • Baby items – formula, food, diapers/wipes
  • Battery-powered lamps or lanterns
  • Supply of sand or cat litter for walkways
  • Reading material
  • Paper products – toilet paper, tissue, toweling, etc.
  • Use sand, not a chemical ice-melting product on your home driveway or walkways. Although it works, it can corrode your payments

Other items to consider:

  1. Allow your faucets to drip to avoid freezing
  2. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes
  3. Use flashlights instead of candles to prevent risk of fire
  4. NEVER use your oven to heat your home
  5. Use of any portable generators must be at least 20 feet away from the house to avoid Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

For more tips on home safety, you can go to:

http://www.nashville.gov/Office-of-Emergency-Management/Disaster-Preparedness/During-the-Disaster/Severe-Winter-Weather/More-Winter-Weather-Tips.aspx