How To Be Prepared For A Winter Weather Emergency

Arkansas may be in the Southern United States, but those who live around Springdale, Fayetteville and other Northwest Arkansas communities know that the weather in January and February can turn fierce and cold with little warning. While you’re preparing your home for winter, take a few minutes to make sure that you’re prepared in case of a winter weather emergency.

Though you can’t foresee all eventualities, making some preparations before the ice and snow starts flying can help your family get through a winter weather emergency safely and comfortably. Below are just a few things to consider:

1. Prepare an emergency kit. Keep an emergency kit handy in case of a winter weather emergency. Such a kit should include a battery-operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries, canned food and an opener, bottled water, extra prescription medications (if necessary), a first aid kit, pet food and extra cash. Keep a cell-phone charger in your car, since your phone can serve as a vital connection with the outside world.

2. Consider a buying a generator. A standby generator can power your whole home, or part of it, when the electricity goes out in your neighborhood. Having a generator can also preserve the food in your refrigerator and freezer, allow you to cook on an electric range and make it possible for you to charge the batteries on such things as cell phones, lap tops and electric devices. If you can’t afford a standby generator, which must be installed by a professional, then consider a portable gas-operated generator.

3. Keep your gas tank full.  In case you have to evacuate during or shortly after a winter storm, having a full tank of gas will eliminate needing to stop at the gas station, which might not be open or have gas.

If you’d like further advice on preparing for a winter weather emergency, please contact us at Paschal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We’ve been helping Northwest Arkansas homeowners with their heating and cooling needs for more than 40 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about weather emergencies and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock