by Dorothy Marie Kucera

Created on: November 02, 2009

PREPARING YOUR HOME for WINTER

Winter storms usually announce themselves a few days to one week before the event, if you monitor the local and national weather reports on television. Online, your best resource for very detailed and up-to-date information is http://www.noaa.gov. Blizzards and power outages can become life-threatening and it is hard to think, function and conserve stamina and body heat if you are not organized.

1. Insulate windows. Prevent more cold air by hanging "Warm Window" four-ply thermal quilted panels behind all drapes on all windows of your apartment or home. Install plastic film on windows. Insulate electrical outlets with those thin foam cushions.

2. Fill your gas can and set it in a metal wagon in the garage so you can operate your snowblower.

3. Stock nonperishable food including condiments, beverages, comfort food, disposable cups and tableware, hygiene supplies, needed medicines, flu and nursing care supplies.

4. Buy a generator and place it far enough from the house to keep gas fumes away. Have long enough power cords that can possibly enter the house through your dryer vent area.

5. Buy one small cooking appliance that you can connect to the generator.

6. Dress in thermal clothing quickly; the house temperature plunges within one or two hours.

7. Never use candles if you have gas appliances in your home. Buy the wind-up battery flashlights and radio...hearing news from the outside world means everything. When you are in the dark, your brain has no visual cues, so light is extremely important.

8. Land phones and cell phones work; portable phones are useless when power is out.

9. Meals...keep in mind that canned foods are in metal containers and metal conducts cold. When your house heat is off and you are all bundled up trying to stay warm, the last thing you want to eat is food that has been deeply chilled instead of staying at room temperature in your pantry or downstairs in your home. What can you do for protein? Young people can eat beef jerky but older residents need soft food. Usually, enough notice is given so you can thaw stew meat a day or two ahead and cook a big stew with potatoes and carrots and broth. Prepare a large meal of macaroni and cheese with green beans in it (for protein) and a big pot of spaghetti with sauce (no meat so it lasts longer.) Bake Crescent Rolls and refrigerate in clear sandwich bags; those taste good cold. Anything you can "snack" on, that is not too unpleasant when cold, is the goal.

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