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Storm Safety


Winter storms can be dangerous and damaging if you are unprepared. When the temperature starts to drop, it's time to think about getting ready.


Steps:

1. Bring any outdoor furniture inside (unless it is extremely durable). You can store it in your garage, basement or storage shed.

2. Remove any outdoor items that can be blown around by the wind and may possibly damage your house.

3. Consider whether any dead trees might be a hazard to your house if they were to fall. You may want to have them removed by a professional tree service.

4. Make sure that you have flashlights, with extra batteries, and candles to provide light during a power failure.

5. Keep some extra bottles of drinking water on hand. If you have a well with an electric pump (and will thus lose all water during a power failure), prepare some tubs of water for cleaning and toilet flushing. You may want to fill the bathtub when a storm is coming.

6. Have a battery-operated radio in the house.

7. Stock up on rock salt and sand for dealing with icy and slippery driveways and sidewalks.

8. Keep a space heater and fuel in the garage if you live in a particularly cold area - especially if you have electrical heat in the house.

9. Keep food in the house that you can prepare without electricity. Note that your needs will vary depending on the type of appliances you have (gas or electric).

Earthquakes, storms. and natural disasters of any kind can be less traumatic if you take steps to store water for your family.

Steps:

1. Figure out how much water you'll need to store. Count on one gallon per person, per day, for two weeks.

2. Obtain and wash plastic, glass, fiberglass, or enamel-lined containers. Soft-drink bottles and food-grade drums work well.

3. Fill containers with water.

4. Add eight drops of household bleach (containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water. This amount of bleach will kill microorganisms, but it won't make you sick.

5. Seal the containers securely, label them and store them in a cool, dark place.

6. Rotate the bottles every six months - empty the containers and replace them with fresh water. Warnings: Never use a container that has held toxic substances.

7. When replacing your water supply by eHow Friend Please use the old water for washing cars, watering plants, in humidifiers, etc., rather than pouring it down the drain.