Many places in the United States have already experienced their first snowfall of the season with some places breaking records for the amount of recorded snow in October. Winter is coming and it's coming faster than many people would like. If you have not already started your winter prepping, it's imperative that you begin as quickly as possible. It is important to know how to be prepared for winter in order to best beat the cold season.
1. Stockpile on food and drinks
When it's cold outside, sometimes the last thing you want to do is have to go grocery shopping. Not to mention with flu season starting to peak and COVID-19 cases rising, it would be best to limit the amount of social interaction you have with others. Make sure you are stocked up on warm, nutritious foods that will help keep you sustained through the long winter months. Plus, winter storms can knock out your energy source, and cause you to rely on whatever you have in storage.
Some rations you will want to make sure you have on hand include: rice, beans, canned soups, dried fruit, crackers and other items that have a long shelf life.
2. Prep your heaters
If you want to know how to be prepared for winter having a reliable heat source is a critical function of your prepping. You will want to make sure that your heaters are in working order before they become a necessity. One of the biggest things with heaters, fireplaces and heat sources is to make sure that they are clean. Build up, specifically in your fireplace chimneys, can cause fires and are a hazard for your home. You will want to get your chimney cleaned and your furnace looked at and filter changed before the cold officially sets in.
3. Get your outdoor materials ready
If you are in a geographical location that receives snow then one of the most important steps in knowing how to be prepared for winter is to have your snow removal materials in order. This usually consists of three main materials: a snow shovel, a snow blower and ice melt. The snow shovel should be wide enough to handle large amounts of snow and sturdy enough to scrape against the ground to get clean sweeps. Snow blowers are handy when there is a back-breaking amount of snow and using a shovel would take too long. Ice melt is for when you get all of the snow removed and only ice remains. Ice melt helps to defrost the ice and makes sure the layer of ice does not get thicker as the weather turns colder.
4. Acquire the appropriate clothing
Your summer clothes will do you no good when winter comes. Long sleeve t-shirts, full length pants and closed toed shoes are a good start when it comes to your winter clothing arsenal. However, some of the best additions are warm hats and gloves. A majority of your body heat can escape through your head if there is nothing to keep it, so a beanie or even earmuffs can help to counteract that problem. Gloves are useful when you are outside and need to use your hands, it can lower your chances of getting frostbite.
5. Extra sources of heat
If you are learning how to be prepared for winter do not forget about winter storms. Winter storms can knock out your power source and leave you in disarray if you have no other heating elements. Procuring either a backup generator, a personal backup heater and even extra blankets and firewood can help you to beat the chill when there's no power.
Civil Dispatch
Civil Dispatch can help you through any emergency scenario and is the best tool to add to your prepping arsenal. When you need emergency communication or a proactive plan in place, Civil Dispatch is the service for you. Learn more about our services and sign up today.