More Than Hot Cocoa: How To Prepare For A Blizzard

It's official. Your children's prayers have been answered and school will be closed tomorrow because it's a snow day. The kids may be pumped to head outside and build snowmen, but if a full-scale blizzard is heading your way, stocking up on hot chocolate, DVDs and microwave popcorn may not be the only types of preparation you need. Here's what you should do before the snow begins to fall.

Fill the Larder – Stocking the pantry with your family's essentials is a must. Consider keeping an ample amount of supplies, able to sustain your family and pets for at least three days on hand, all winter long. This will help you avoid shortages and the inevitably long grocery store line the day before the big one is predicted to hit. The wafting scent of baking cookies is a snow day must, but be well-stocked with a large amount of no-cook food in case the power goes off. Non-perishable items such as canned fruit salad, chili and sardines are all good choices. Have enough bottled water to last for three days. One gallon per person per day is conventional wisdom's rule of thumb.

Lay In Storm Supplies – Heavy snow, icy roads and fallen trees may all conspire to keep you stuck in the house for several days, so it is imperative you plan ahead and have enough heating fuel or an alternative heating source on hand. Your heat source may be shut down or adversely affected by the weather, so make sure to have an ample supply of heavy blankets and clothing available for the entire family. A well-stocked first aid kit, flashlights, batteries and an organic-alternative rock salt to de-ice pathways are all essential. If you can't get out, others can't get in, so don't assume your normal deliveries will occur. Any essentials, such as prescription medications, should be refilled and on hand before the storm hits.

Plan To Shovel Smart – Shoveling and winter go hand-in-hand, but make sure your household's main shoveller is physically up to the task. Wrenched backs, aching muscles and heart attacks are all common reactions to snow shoveling and can be avoided by simply hiring someone else to do the job. Even the most robust soul should stretch first, and will require heavy gloves, waterproof work boots and top-notch shoveling equipment to get the job done comfortably. Leave the gardening shovel in your shed and opt for ergonomic or long-handled snow shovels with non-stick surfaces instead. You will need both digging and pushing shovels in order to do the job efficiently. Have an ample supply of disposable heating pads, Epsom salts and over-the-counter pain medication on hand, just in case.

Stay Fully Charged – The power may go off for an extended period of time and if so, your cell phone and computer may be your only conduits to the outside world. Keep electronics fully charged and try not to power them down with over-use. Also have a battery-operated radio available with an ample supply of fresh batteries, just in case.

Safeguard Your Home – Storms can cause damage to any type of structure, from older houses to high rise apartment buildings. Based upon your type of dwelling, there are a number of safety measures you can put in place:

• Check for leaks and drafts which might create cold air seepage indoors and apply weather stripping as needed to windows and door frames.
• Inspect your heating equipment and make sure the pipes are well-insulated and that the warm water is left on to trickle slightly out of each faucet. If the pipes do freeze, remove the insulation, cover with rags and pour hot water over the frozen areas to thaw.
• Avoid using kerosene lamps or other highly flammable heat sources such as barbecues indoors.
• Preserve heat by turning it off completely in unused rooms.
• Many boilers rely upon electricity to work, so consider purchasing an at-home generator if you are concerned about a power outage. This will help to maintain heat within the home and also protect your perishable food supply, lighting and communications devices.
• Make sure all outside appliance vents are open and unblocked by snow drifts to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or build-up within the home and always have CO and fire detectors on hand and armed with fresh batteries.
• Make sure your roof is free of structural damage and use a snow rake to remove snow from it after the storm has abated, if you are able to do so. Most roofs can withstand a significant amount of snowfall but if you have any doubts, hire a professional roofer to examine your roof and make maintenance recommendations at the beginning of the winter season.
• Remove dead branches from trees that could become heavy and snap off during a storm, particularly if the snow is very wet, or the storm is early in the season when trees still have leaves.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

Learn more by visiting CBS Philly's Storm Prep section