Winter Weather Ahead

Most cold-season power failures happen when winter storms bring freezing rain, sleet, and high winds, damaging power lines and equipment. Without a steady supply of heat, not only are you impacted, but your home can suffer from dampness, damaging walls, floors and plumbing.

Plan ahead before the cold comes

• Put together an emergency survival kit and an evacuation plan.
• Stock your pantry with non-perishable food and bottled water. Don’t forget your pet’s food.
• Take time for some pre-winter home maintenance.
• If someone in your home relies on electric medical equipment, register with your local power company and community emergency program.
• Have a secondary non-electric heater installed, like a fireplace or wood stove. Have it cleaned regularly, and store fuel safely. For oil or gas stoves, make sure shut-off valves are installed by a qualified technician.
• There is much more to this article and I advise checking it out. Really good advice.
• https://www.cooperators.ca/en/Resources/stay-safe/winter-power-outage-tips.aspx

• Things that are good to own.
• 1) Folding book solar charger  $34.00 to $99.00
  2) Hand held solar charger $15.00 to $29.00
  3) LED lanterns $12.00
  4) solar powered lanterns $22.00
  5) solar power and crank radio $32.00 to $99.00
  6) Emergency candles $6.95 to $10.00
  7) Lighters $5.00 to $22.00
  Even if you never camp you should own a tent and sleeping bags.  I remember seeing a feature about a family who did a self imposed shut down of their electric to see how they would do.  This was in the winter too.  They all slept comfortably with a tent and sleeping bags.  The tent held in the heat.
  Also there are indoor survival heaters of all types.  Canned heat for $6.00 to a hand held cozy fireplace for $19.99.
  We are hearing about more severe weather moving forward and also possible blackouts.  Be prepared so you don’t suffer when or if these things happen.
• You should also have an emergency kit in your car.

• In an emergency situation, in addition to a full tank of gas and fresh antifreeze, the National Safety Council recommends having these with you at all times:

  • Blankets, mittens, socks and hats
  • Ice scraper and snow brush
  • Flashlight, plus extra batteries (or a hand-crank flashlight)
  • Jumper cables
  • First-aid kit (band-aides, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, antiseptic cream, medical wrap). See a first-aid kit checklist.
  • Bottled water
  • Multi-tool (such as a Leatherman multi-tool or a Swiss Army knife)
  • Road flares or reflective warning triangles
  • Windshield cleaner
  • Cell phone charger.
• 

• How Cold Will It Get?

  The big takeaway for our winter season forecast is that frigid temperatures should flow into many areas nationwide—especially in the North Central region, where readers will certainly be shaking and shivering!

  How Much Snow Will You See This Winter Season?

  Winter 2022-2023 should be dominated by an active storm track in the eastern half of the country, running from the western Gulf of Mexico to the northeast, across the Virginias, and across interior New York State and New England.

  Areas south of the storm track (much of the Southeast) will see frequent storms bringing cold rains and a wintry mix of wet snow, sleet, ice, freezing rain—as well as chilly temperatures.

  The I-95 corridor can be included in this winter mix zone with places to the north of the track seeing the precipitation fall more as snow and at times, a lot of it. This may be especially true over the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes area.

  Snow lovers will be happy in the North Central States as they will see a fair share of storminess during the winter season, which should mean plenty of snow for winter enthusiasts to enjoy (maybe even in time for a white Christmas?).

  The South Central States are forecast to see some accumulating snow, especially in early January. The Far West and the Pacific Northwest will see about-normal winter precipitation; however, the Southwest will experience less than normal.