Are You Ready For A Winter Weather Emergency?
According to Ready.gov, an online resource from the Department of Homeland Security, an emergency preparedness kit is your best course of action to ensure you and your family’s safety during a winter weather emergency. Losing power in the midst of ice and snow can quickly become a serious situation, and at the very least, result in uncomfortable conditions inside your home.
How do you prepare? Build your basic heating emergency kit, which could include the following items:
- One gallon of water per person, per day, for at least three days (for drinking and sanitation)
- At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert (and extra batteries for both)
- Flashlight (with extra batteries)
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Manual can opener for food
- A shovel
- Necessary medications
Additional preparations should include fully charging your cell phone and conserving battery life during a power outage. We also recommend ensuring your vehicle has at least a half tank of gasoline in the event that you absolutely must leave your home in the event of an emergency. Don’t forget about family pets, as they will require additional food and water. Road salt, sand, and cat litter are excellent materials to purchase in advance to encourage melting and help gain traction in areas where you walk outside your home, such as the driveway.
Emergency preparedness kits are also a good investment for your personal vehicle in the event that you get stuck on roadways in the midst of dangerous winter weather. Be sure to store these items inside the vehicle itself and not the trunk, as it can quickly become frozen shut. A comprehensive list of emergency preparedness kit materials can be found at Ready.gov’s website.
If you experience the need for emergency heating repair in the midst of winter weather, Middleton Heat & Air is available for you, 24/7. We have proudly served communities around Bryant, Hot Springs, and Conway with heating repair for 40 years, offering service around the clock when you need us. You have a choice when it comes to heating and air companies. Give us a call today and discover why we’ve been voted “The Best of the Best” in Arkansas time and time again.