As winter weather descends on the United States you should be prepared to handle adverse weather in your area. Here are five areas of preparedness and planning that you may not have thought about. It is important to have a plan in place so in the event of a serious storm you will know what to do.
1) If you have children in school have you considered what you will do if school is cancelled? If you work full-time you will need to have child care arrangements available or you will need to be able to take time off of work.
2) Does your job expect you to come in when there is inclement weather? Do you know how to drive in winter weather and would you be able to get to and from your job safely? You may want to talk to your employer about setting up work from home options so that you do not need to go out on dangerous roads.
3) Another thing to consider is what you are going to do if you are stuck at home during bad weather. It is a great time to bond as a family. You may want to have a box of supplies on hand that you can use to begin family traditions. You can bake cookies, make hot chocolate and play board games. Of course part of the time can be spent outside.
4) You need to have a plan set up in case you lose power during the storm. You may want to have a box of emergency food set aside. You can also store a few cans of Sterno so that you can easily heat up the food. You should have plans for entertaining your children, and keeping warm with no power.
5) You may also want to consider if there are any neighbors who may need your help during this time. You may want to check on any elderly neighbors and family members to make sure that they are handling the condition safely. You may also consider calling them before you run to the grocery store to see if they need anything.
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