Winter Weather | Ready.gov (2024)

FAQs

How do you get ready for winter weather? ›

Be prepared for winter weather at home, at work and in your car. Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Keep a full tank of gas.

Choose foods like energy bars and protein and fruit bars not requiring refrigeration or freezing, said Sands, who trains students in disaster and emergency preparedness. Dry cereal, granola, peanut butter, dried fruit and non-perishable pasteurized milk are also good to have as you hunker down.

The winter of 1880–1881 is widely considered the most severe winter ever known in many parts of the United States. The initial blizzard in October 1880 brought snowfalls so deep that two-story homes experienced accumulations, as opposed to drifts, up to their second-floor windows.

Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove or space heater properly ventilated to prevent a fire. Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm; test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they work properly. Extra pet food and warm shelter for pets. Review generator safety: Never run a generator in an enclosed space.

Don't Wait for Freezing Temperatures

Instead of waiting for the freezing temperature and cold winds to blow in, summer can be the best time to start winterizing your home. Of course, calendars this summer season are already filled with road trips and family vacations.

If you live in a cold weather climate, you already know salt is often applied before snow and ice move in. Longley recommends doing the same on your own pavement, as this can help prevent ice from forming. If you wait until the precipitation starts falling, you'll find your salt may have limited effectiveness.

Focus on shelf-stable food

Shelf-stable foods include dried goods like flour, sugar, rice, and salt. The list also includes canned goods and food in jars. These last ones will generally need to be used soon after opening, but they are typically long-lasting before that.

This situation is referred to as a "ground" blizzard. Certain portions of the US can expect at least a few blizzards each winter. The Plains region that encompasses North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska see the highest frequency of blizzards in the US.

Why should you stay inside during a blizzard? ›

Additional information on assembling home disaster kits can be found on the FEMA website. During severe winter weather, the best advice is to stay inside your house. Plummeting temperatures and high winds that often accompany winter storms allow frostbite and hypothermia to set in quickly if you are outside.

Tamarack in Calaveras County holds the record for the deepest snowfall on earth (884 inches (2,250 cm)). Alyeska Resort, 669 inches (1,700 cm) annually.

Avoid overexertion such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow if you are not in good health. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.

Set your thermostat (don't turn it off) at the lowest temperature that will keep your pipes from freeze damage (at least 50 to 55 degrees should do it).

Keep the thermostat above 69°F; wear warm clothing; eat food for warmth and drink plenty of water (or fluids other than alcohol) to keep hydrated. NOTE: Alcohol will lower your body temperature. The best way to avoid hypothermia or frostbite is to stay warm and dry indoors.

Make an emergency plan for you and your family. Listen to your radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information. Make sure your home is well insulated and that you have weather stripping around your doors and windowsills to keep the warm air inside.