With winter weather in the forecast—and Winter Storm Uri still fresh on a lot of minds—now is the time to get ready, just in case. The smartest window to prepare is 24 to 48 hours before the storm hits, while roads are clear and supplies are still available. Start with the basics: charge your phones, tablets, power banks, and rechargeable lanterns so you’re not scrambling if the power goes out. Fill up your vehicle’s gas tank early, because stations can lose power or run out of fuel, and grab a little cash in small bills in case card readers go down. Finally, pick up prescriptions and essential medications ahead of time, and download movies, books, or maps so you’ll still have what you need—even if the internet doesn’t.
At home, it helps to plan where your household will “camp out” if the power fails. Choose one warm room where everyone can gather, and locate your breaker box and water shut-off valve now—not during an emergency. You can also set your refrigerator and freezer to slightly colder settings to help them hold temperature longer during an outage, and limit how often you open them once conditions worsen.
Frozen temperatures also bring the risk of burst pipes, so taking steps to protect your plumbing can save major repair costs later. When temperatures drop below freezing, turn on drip faucets on exterior walls and open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots and cover outdoor faucets with insulated caps or towels. If a pipe does burst, knowing how to shut off the water quickly can reduce damage—so make sure everyone in the home knows where that valve is.
Food and kitchen prep is another key part of storm readiness. Keep three to five days of no-cook foods on hand—items like peanut butter, tuna, bread, crackers, canned meats, fruit cups, and cereal. Make sure you have a manual can opener, and consider shelf-stable or powdered milk if needed. Freezing a few water bottles can help act as “ice packs” in the freezer, and having a cooler ready gives you options if you need to move refrigerated food outside when temperatures stay below freezing.
Staying warm safely is critical, especially if power outages are possible. Gather extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers, and check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If you plan to use a fireplace, confirm the chimney is clear and that you have dry wood ready. Most importantly, never run a generator or grill inside a home or garage, even with the door open. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights instead of candles when possible, and keep spare batteries for each household member.
If travel is unavoidable, plan for changing road conditions. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded spots often freeze first, so avoid driving once freezing rain begins unless it’s absolutely necessary. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with a blanket, water, snacks, gloves, and a phone charger, and make sure wiper blades and washer fluid are in good shape. Also expect delays—ice can disrupt flights and regional travel for hours or even days.
During the storm, the safest choice is to stay off the roads and treat downed power lines as live and dangerous. Report outages to your utility provider, not 911, unless there is an immediate emergency. After the storm, watch for refreezing, check pipes as temperatures rise, and discard refrigerated food if it has been above 40°F for more than four hours. Ice events can be especially damaging: a quarter-inch can cause scattered outages, and half an inch can cripple travel and power for days—making preparation the difference between inconvenience and a true emergency.