Even though Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, don’t get too excited for warmer weather just yet. We’re still a few weeks away from spring, and cold fronts continue to form throughout the northeastern and midwestern states.
According to The Weather Channel, on Valentine’s Day, cities such as Boston and New York City experienced the lowest dips in temperature in decades. Boston residents celebrated their love in negative-nine-degree weather, the coldest since 1957, while New York City had its coldest day since 1994, with a temperature of one degree below zero.
Even if your region of the country doesn’t normally experience below-zero temperatures, you should still be prepared for anything Mother Nature could throw at you – extremely cold temperatures, snow or hail. The following are tips to help you through the remainder of the winter season:
Gather supplies for the household
Stockpile items to get you and your family through a winter storm well before your local meteorologist calls for snow and ice. Depending on your location and the predicted severity of the storm, grocery stores can quickly sell out of the most important supplies you may need, including:
- Water
- Batteries
- Non-perishable foods
- First-aid kits
- Medications (prescription and over the counter)
- Toilet paper and other sanitary/hygiene items
By stocking up on these items in advance, you won’t need to rush to the nearest store as soon as winter weather is called for and find yourself fighting over the last loaf of bread. Have enough sustenance on hand to last a week, just in case you’re snowed in for a few days.
Prepare your home for the elements
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), insurance claims stemming from winter storms are the third costliest typically covered disasters, following tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms.
Preparedness is the best method to help prevent damage to your home during a winter storm. To protect your residence and belongings, take the following steps:
- Help prevent frozen pipes by periodically running a light stream of warm water through all the faucets in your home and insulating your pipes. Standard homeowners policies can cover water damage from burst pipes, but usually not from flood damage. Review your policy to make sure you’re protected.
- Before an impending storm, check your gutters for leaves or other debris that typically builds up. This prevents ice dams from forming in your gutters, which can cause them to break or allow melted snow to seep into areas of the home. And be sure to inspect your roof for broken or missing shingles and repair any that you find. During heavy snowfall, do your best to keep your roof cleared off, as it could collapse under the weight.
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically cover damage due to catastrophes, such as winter storms. However, it’s always a best practice to speak with your agent to know exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Surviving a power outage
Depending on the strength of the storm and the conditions it brings with it, you could be facing a power outage. Being prepared for the worst case scenario is your best bet for weathering the storm.
Have plenty of flashlights on hand. And batteries. When nighttime comes, or if you have to leave your home for safety reasons, you won’t waste time stumbling around in the dark. Avoid using candles for light or bringing outdoor grills inside for heat. Both pose serious fire hazards.
Have backup batteries or chargers for cell phones. Even if your home’s wi-fi is out, most people will still have internet access through their wireless carrier. Buying an extra battery for your phone and/or a phone case that also doubles as a charger will keep your phone alive longer so you can call to check on family and friends and call for help, if necessary. Just make sure to use your power wisely and don’t waste precious battery life playing games.
No smartphone? No problem. To stay up to date on the storm’s developments, an emergency battery-powered radio can be just as effective as a smartphone for receiving important information.
Maintain the temperatures of your refrigerator and freezer. Avoid opening and closing these doors as much as possible to prevent food and milk from spoiling. If you do need to get something out of the refrigerator, do so quickly. Also, preemptively turn the temperatures of your fridge and freezer as low as possible as an added precaution.
Stay warm. Pull out extra blankets, sheets and warm clothing in case your power can’t be restored right away.
Don’t be a procrastinator
Waiting until a winter storm is brewing in your area won’t give you much time to do everything you need to prepare your family and home.
Doing as much as you can to prepare for a winter storm well before it arrives will go a long way to help prevent damage to your dwelling and its contents. Knowing as much as you can about what your homeowners policy covers in the event of a natural disaster or catastrophe is also a key step in planning for the protection of your home.
Erin Phipps writes for SafecoInsurance.com and HomeownersInsurance.com, an online resource for homeowners and drivers across the country. Offering comparative automobile and homeowners insurance quotes, consumers rely on HomeInsurance.com for the most competitive rates from the top-rated insurance carriers in the country. The HomeownersInsurance.com blog provides fresh tips and advice on a range of financial topics to help homeowners and homebuyers make educated decisions about their insurance purchases.
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