I heard it might snow in Atlanta next week. I know that most of the time it misses us, but whenever there is a possibility of snow, sleet, ice, or freezing rain, it's always best to be prepared.
Don't get caught without a plan. Here's 10 ways to prepare for winter weather.
- Charge all devices. Keep your phones, laptops, and other devices charged. If you also have an external charger, make sure it's ready too.
- Gas up your vehicle. Fill up your vehicle with gas before the winter weather hits. During widespread power outages, it may be impossible to find operating gas pumps.
- Watch where you park. Speaking of your vehicle, be sure not to park under a tree. Freezing rain and ice can cause tree limbs to fall.
- Get your flashlights and batteries ready. Know where your flashlights are and make sure you have working batteries. Camp lights are also great for lighting the dark.
- Stock up on non-perishable food and snacks. Make sure you have milk, bread, peanut butter, crackers, fruit, chips, and other simple foods that don't require refrigeration. Most items can just be placed outside your back door to keep them cold, but if the power is out, you won't be able to cook or heat anything.
- Wash clothes and dishes. Get caught up now on laundry and dishwashing. If you lose power, you'll have clean clothes to wear and clean dishes for meals.
- Make sure every family member has winter clothing: coat, boots, gloves, and a warm hat that fit. Snow pants or sweatpants are nice for the kids too.
- Have the right tools in the right place. Keep an ice scraper inside the house so you can clean off your vehicle more easily. Other items include: rock salt or ice melt and sleds or snow tubes if you have them. Keep them all in a closet or a corner of your basement.
- Make a childcare plan. Schools may be closed or delayed on any given day. Plan ahead for childcare, especially if you're an essential worker.
- Plan non-electronic things to do for fun. Playing in the snow is great for a while, but kids will eventually come indoors. Be ready for them with crafts, puzzles, board games, books, and other indoor fun. Let your child help plan a special snow day meal, with or without power.
***IMPORTANT*** DO NOT warm up inside a car in the garage! Carbon monoxide poisoning is a real thing. Tragically, people die every year when they try to warm up after power outages. Don't do it. Pile on blankets, dress in layers, and stay in one room with doors closed to keep as warm as possible.
