Prepare ahead for any extreme winter weather

When preparing to hunker down and brace for icy impact during winter storms, planning ahead is essential to keeping family, home and furry friends, safe and secure. One such step, is by winterizing the home, by performing regular maintenance that can help to prevent issues that may arise.

Check all window and door locks, change furnace filters regularly, and consider insulating pipes and windows for added safety measures. Don’t forget to keep the chimney free of debris for use as a heat source during power outages.

Families should also make a plan to prepare before a potential storm. Agree upon a meeting place and safe location, whether the garage, a cellar or a safe room in the house, and be sure each member of the family, furry friends included, get there safely.

When a winter storm or high winds are near, be sure to stay updated on weather alerts, via TV or battery-powered radio, in case of a power outage.

Be prepared ahead of a storm. Create an emergency preparedness kit and regularly check supplies, to ensure there is a fully stocked kit at the onset of winter, to get through challenges that come with outages and winter storms.

Essential items to keep in a fully stocked emergency kit include a fully-stocked firstaid kit; several flashlights with extra batteries; indoor propane or natural gas space heaters, or forced air heaters; extra cans of propane for non-electric heaters; fully- charged cell phone; cell phone power bank; batterypowered radio; multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife (be sure it has a can opener); plenty of canned foods and nonperishables; bottled water; and additional blankets and cold weather clothes.