The Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging families to prepare now for winter storms, and this year’s federal outlook points to a rough season for much of the country.
“Winter weather is right around the corner,” FEMA wrote on X this week.
NOAA’s winter outlook, released in October, calls for a very strong El Niño and a wetter winter across the South and up the East Coast. National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said it “tilts the odds toward stormier weather across the South.” The Weather Service has also begun using “Particularly Dangerous Situation” wording on some blizzard and ice storm warnings. NOAA will update the outlook Nov. 19.
Heavy snow and ice bring down power lines, and outages can last for days. Here is what federal guidance says to do before, during and after.
Before the storm
Ready.gov, the federal preparedness site, advises keeping a flashlight for every member of the household, along with extra batteries and charged power banks for phones. If anyone in the home depends on a powered medical device or refrigerated medicine, talk to a doctor now about a plan for an outage.
Winterize the house. Add insulation where you can, and caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to hold in heat. Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup. Daylight saving time just ended, and Ready.gov reminds families to test smoke alarms at least twice a year.
Keep a kit in the car with jumper cables, sand for traction, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, water and snacks, and keep the gas tank full.
Learn the alerts. A winter storm watch is usually issued 12 to 48 hours before a storm, and a warning 12 to 24 hours ahead. Treat a watch as the signal to finish shopping and charging devices.
When the power goes out
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed. A closed refrigerator keeps food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer holds its temperature for about 48 hours. Throw out refrigerated food that has been at 40 degrees or warmer for two hours or more. “When in doubt, throw it out!” Ready.gov says. Refrigerated medicines that have been warm for more than a day should be discarded unless the label says otherwise.
Never use a gas stove or oven to heat the home. Run a generator only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and let it cool before refueling. Use heavy-duty extension cords rated for the load. More than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cold injuries
Know the signs of frostbite, which include numbness and white or grayish-yellow skin, and of hypothermia, which include shivering, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. A body temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency. Get the person to a warm place, warm the center of the body first and do not massage frostbitten skin.
Families who struggle with heating bills can ask their state about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
The bottom line
Preparing for a storm is a family’s own responsibility, and it costs little. A few flashlights, a carbon monoxide detector, a stocked car kit and a plan for food and medicine will carry most households through a multi-day outage without having to wait on anyone.
Do it this weekend, while store shelves are full and the roads are clear, instead of waiting for a storm watch.
When the power does go out, check on elderly neighbors and anyone living alone.