Winter storm preparedness for the home: supplies, food and water, pets, backup heat, and a 72 hour plan¶

Awɔw bere mu ahum betumi ama ofie bi nni anyinam ahoɔden, ɔhyew, nsu a ɛsen anaa akwan a ahobammɔ wom nna pii. Nnipa a wogyina ano yiye no nyɛ wɔn a wɔwɔ gear pii. Wɔn na wodii kan sii baabi a wɔbɛma wɔn ho ayɛ hyew, ɔkwan a wɔbɛfa so anya nsɛm, nea wobedi ne nea wɔbɛnom, ne bere a sɛ ofie no bɛyɛ nea ahobammɔ nnim a wobefi hɔ ho gyinae.

Saa akwankyerɛ yi ma wunya nhyehyɛe a mfaso wɔ so. Ɛka nneɛma a wɔde besie wɔ fie, aduan ne nsu, nnuru ne ahiade titiriw, afieboa, ɔhyew ne hann a wɔde bɛboa, nsɛm a wɔbɛkɔ so anya, ofie no ho banbɔ, ne nnɔnhwerew 72 bere nhyehyɛe fi bere a wodii kan hyɛɛ nkɔm kosi da a edi ahum no akyi. Sɛ wopɛ nea ɛsɛ sɛ woyɛ wɔ dwumadi no mu a, hwɛ winter storm safety. For the general home kit, see emergency kit.

Yɛ eyi mprempren¶

1. Check the forecast and alerts from your national weather service (the National Weather Service in the United States, the Met Office in the United Kingdom, Environment and Climate Change Canada). Know the difference between a watch, which means conditions are possible, and a warning, which means they are expected or happening.
2. Make sure you have at least 3 days of food and water, and ideally more. A common guide is 4 liters (1 gallon) of water per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene.
3. Charge phones, power banks and radios. Fill the car's fuel tank, and fetch medicines and any pet food you need.
4. Choose one room in the house to stay in if the heat fails, and set up blankets, a battery lamp and warm clothing there.
5. Test your smoke alarms and battery powered carbon monoxide alarms, and make a plan for safe heat. Never use a grill, camp stove or generator indoors.
6. Tell a neighbor or relative your plan, and check on those who live alone, are older, or have medical needs. If you must leave, go before the storm arrives, not during it. Call your local emergency number (911 in the United States and Canada, 112 across the European Union, 999 in the United Kingdom) only for emergencies. See nɔma ahorow a egye ntɛmpɛ.

Know the risks in your area¶

Winter storms are not all alike. Heavy snow, ice, extreme cold, high wind and flooding from thaw each bring different problems. Look up the risks where you live, and plan for the worst case that is realistic.

Also think about who lives with you. Babies, older adults, people with health conditions, and people who use powered medical equipment need extra planning. See mpanyimfo a wɔn mfe akɔ anim a wɔbɛma wɔn ho atɔ wɔn wɔ wim tebea a ɛyɛ nwini mu na mpanyimfo a wɔn mfe akɔ anim nhyehyɛe a wɔyɛ no ntɛm ara.

Build the supply kit¶

Keep your kit in one place that is easy to reach in the dark, such as a closet near the room you will use. Use sturdy containers, check dates twice a year and replace what you use. Ready.gov and the Red Cross recommend supplies for at least 72 hours, and many agencies now suggest a week or more in places that get severe winters or have fragile power grids.

Light and communication¶

• Battery or hand crank radio with weather band, so you can hear official updates when cell towers fail
• Flashlights or headlamps with extra batteries, and battery lanterns. Avoid candles, which cause fires. See emergency lighting without candles.
• Phone chargers and charged power banks, plus a car charger
• Whistle to signal for help
• Printed list of emergency contacts and a small notebook and pen. See ntɛmpɛ nkitahodi kaad generator.

Warmth¶

• Ntama a ɛyɛ hyew, nna kotoku a wɔahyɛ sɛ awɔw wom, ne aboa nhoma anaa aboa nhoma a wɔtow ma obiara
• Warm clothing: hats, gloves, scarves, thick socks, thermal underwear, waterproof boots and coats
• Mylar ahunmu ntama, a ne bo nyɛ den na ɛyɛ ketewaa
• Nsa ne nipadua mu hyew, a wɔde di dwuma sɛnea wɔakyerɛw so
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape, mpopaho ne cardboard a wɔde siw mframa a ɛbɔ ano na wɔde kata mfɛnsere so
• A foam pad or camping mat to insulate sleepers from cold floors

Tools and household items¶

• Sukyerɛmma a wɔde twitwiw nsukyenee, nsukyenee a wɔde twitwiw nsukyenee, anhwea, nkyene anaa afieboa a wɔde yi nsukyenee a ahobammɔ wom, ne nneɛma a wɔde twetwe mpaboa
• Roof rake with a non conducting handle, if you have a pitched roof in a heavy snow area
• Basic tools, a wrench for utility shutoffs, a multitool and work gloves
• Fire extinguisher rated for household use. See ofie ogya dum afiri a wɔpaw.
• Battery powered smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, with spare batteries
• Trash bags, toilet paper, wet wipes, soap, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, diapers and baby supplies
• Cash in small bills, because card readers and cash machines fail in outages. See emergency cash reserve.
• Copies of key documents, in a waterproof bag

First aid and health¶

• A stocked first aid kit with a manual. See mmoa a edi kan a wɔde ma.
• A supply of prescription medicines, at least a week, plus a copy of the list of medicines and doses
• Over the counter medicines that your family uses, following the label
• Spare glasses, hearing aid batteries, and dental care items
• Thermometers, including a room thermometer to track indoor temperature

For the vehicle, keep a winter kit in the car and read kar awɔw bere mu blizzard nkwagye kit na kar mu ntɛmpɛ kit.

Food and water¶

Water¶

Plan for at least 4 liters (1 gallon) per person per day, for 3 days, as a minimum. In cold climates and for people who are ill, breastfeeding or pregnant, plan for more. Store water in clean, food grade containers in a cool place, and rotate it every six to twelve months if it is not commercially bottled.

Fill clean bathtubs, pots and containers with water before the storm if you expect pipes to freeze or the supply to stop, and use this water for flushing and washing. If your supply is under a boil notice, see nsuo ahobammɔ ne boil ho amanneɛbɔ.

If pipes freeze or burst, shut off the main supply at the valve, and read nsu afiri a ayɛ nwini. Snow is not a safe drinking source unless melted and boiled for at least 1 minute, or treated, and it should never be taken from near roads or discolored areas.

Food¶

Choose food that needs no cooking or can be heated safely, that your household will eat, and that provides enough energy. In the cold, the body burns more calories, so do not skimp.

• Canned meat, fish, beans, soup, fruit and vegetables, with a manual can opener
• Peanut butter, nuts, seeds, granola bars, dried fruit and trail mix
• Crackers, bread, cereal, and shelf stable milk
• Ready to eat meals and shelf stable pouches
• Ɛwo, asikre, chocolate ne nnuan afoforo a ɛma ahoɔden
• Nkokoaa aduan, nkokoaa aduan ne aduan a wɔde yɛ aduan titiriw
• Kɔfe, tii, kokoo ne anonne a wɔayam no ntɛm ara na ama abrabɔ pa ne ɔhyew akɔ soro

Hwɛ bere tenten shelf stable aduan a wɔkora so ma nneɛma akɛse a wɔde asie.

Nnuannoa a ahoɔden nnim¶

Mfa fango a wɔde hyew aduan, nsraban mu fononoo anaa afiri biara a wɔde hyew pɛtro wɔ dan mu nnoa aduan. Wɔde carbon monoxide awuduru ba. Fa ɔkwan a ahobammɔ wom te sɛ aduan a ɛyɛ nwini a wubedi, anaasɛ fononoo a wɔde di dwuma wɔ nsraban mu a wɔde di dwuma wɔ abɔnten nkutoo di dwuma. Hwɛ aduannoa a egye ntɛmpɛ wɔ dan mu a anyinam ahoɔden nni mu esiane nea ɛwɔ ahobammɔ ne nea enni ahobammɔ nti.

Aduan a wɔbɛma ayɛ nea ahobammɔ wom¶

Fridge a wɔato mu ma aduan yɛ nwini bɛyɛ nnɔnhwerew 4, frigye a ɛyɛ ma bɛyɛ nnɔnhwerew 48, na frigye a ɛyɛ ma fã bɛyɛ nnɔnhwerew 24. Fa nneɛma bom, to apon mu, na fa frigye nkotoku anaa nsu nkotoku a wɔahyɛ no nwini gu frigye mu. Tow nnuan a ɛporɔw a ɛboro digrii Celsius 4 (digrii Fahrenheit 40) bɛboro nnɔnhwerew 2 gu. Sɛ w’adwene mu yɛ wo naa a, tow gu. Hwɛ aduan a asɛe ne frigye mu anyinam ahoɔden a atwa.

Nnuru, akwahosan ne ahiade titiriw¶

• San hyɛ nnuru a wɔakyerɛw ama wo no ma ansa na ahum no atu, na sɛ nea ɔkyerɛw wo ne insurance adwumakuw no ma ho kwan a, fa dapɛn biako anaa nea ɛboro saa to wo nsam.
• Keep a written list of medicines, doses, allergies, doctors and conditions. Keep a copy in your wallet or phone.
• Know which medicines need refrigeration and how to keep them cold. See nnuru a ɛma ɔhyew nka wɔ anyinam ahoɔden a atwa mu.
• If you use oxygen, a ventilator, CPAP, a powered wheelchair, a feeding pump or dialysis, tell your utility and provider, and have a backup plan. See anyinam ahoɔden a wɔtwa ma oxygen concentrators, mframa a wɔde ma ne CPAP na insulin pump, CGM and dialysis patient disaster kit.
• Yɛ nhyehyɛe ma nkokoaa. Fa nnuru a wɔde yɛ aduan, nkotoku, mpaboa, ne ntade a ɛyɛ hyew sie. Hwɛ nkokoaa ne mmofra a wɔretu mmirika ntɛm kɔ bag.
• Wɔ nnipa a wɔadi dɛm fam no, yɛ nhyehyɛe sɛnea wubenya nsɛm, atu akɔtra baabi foforo, na woafrɛ mmoa. Hwɛ wɔn a wɔnte asɛm yiye, asotifo ne anifuraefo a wɔasiesie wɔn ho wɔ asiane ho na wheelchair and mobility device evacuation.

Ayɛmma ne mmoa¶

Pets feel the cold, and many cannot survive long outdoors in freezing weather. Plan for them as you would for any family member.

• Bring pets inside before the storm. Short haired, small, old and young animals are at the greatest risk.
• Anyɛ yiye koraa no, fa aduan, nsu ne nnuru biara sie nnafua 3. Fa manual can opener ka ho sɛ wode toa di dwuma a.
• Fa carrier anaa crate, leash, harness ne mfonini a ɛbaa nnansa yi sie, ne adanse a ɛkyerɛ sɛ wɔde vaccination ne microchip ho nsɛm ka ho.
• Ma mpa a ɛyɛ hyew fi fam, ne ntama a wobetumi ato mu.
• Wipe paws after being outside, since salt and de-icers irritate and are poisonous if licked. Keep antifreeze and de-icing chemicals out of reach.
• Hu baabi a wubetumi ne w’ayɛmmoa akɔ sɛ ɛsɛ sɛ wufi hɔ a. Nnipa atrae pii nnye mmoa, enti di kan hwehwɛ ahɔhodan a wɔde afieboa, adamfo anaa baabi a wɔde mmoa kɔ.
• Wɔ mmoa a wɔwɔ abɔnten ne mmoa fam no, ma baabi a ɛhɔ yɛ kusuu a mframa betumi abɔ ho ban a mpa a emu dɔ, nsu a ɛnyɛ nwini ne aduan foforo wom.

Hwɛ afieboa wɔ tebea horow a egye ntɛmpɛ mu na pet first aid kit and evacuation crate, and visit hurricane.kyerɛ afieboa kwan for more.

Backup heat¶

Heat is the main concern in a winter outage. The safest plan is a combination of insulation, one warm room, and a heat source that you know is safe, or a place to go.

Preserve heat¶

Choose a small interior room with few windows. Hang blankets over windows and doorways, block drafts under doors, and wear layers. Close off unused rooms. See ɔhyew a wɔbɛma ayɛ hyew wɔ dan mu bere a awɔw bere mu grid a ɛrebubu nna pii no.

Ɔhyew a ahobammɔ wom fibea ahorow¶

• An electric space heater powered by a safe generator or battery system, used with the clearances described in space heater, ogya dan ne nnua stove ahobammɔ wɔ outage mu
• A properly installed and maintained wood stove or fireplace with a clean chimney, and seasoned wood stored in advance
• A heater approved for indoor use and used exactly as the label says, with ventilation and alarms
• A backup power station, a ɛyɛ komm na ɛnyɛ exhaust biara. Hwɛ backup power station ne owia ahoɔden generator kɛseyɛ.

Nea ɛnsɛ sɛ wode di dwuma wɔ dan mu da¶

Never use a charcoal or gas grill, camp stove, gas oven or stove, patio heater, or generator inside the house, in a garage, on a porch or near windows. Carbon monoxide kills quickly and without warning. Install battery powered carbon monoxide alarms on every level and near sleeping areas. See carbon monoxide a wɔde yɛ adwuma na generator ahobammɔ.

Know when to leave¶

If the indoor temperature falls toward 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) and you cannot raise it safely, go somewhere warm. Choices include a friend or relative, a hotel, or a public warming center. Leave before roads become impassable, and tell someone where you are going. See ɔhyew a ɛba fam ne awɔw a ɛba nipadua no mu for signs to watch for.

Stay informed¶

• Sign up for local emergency alerts from your city, county or national warning system. Many countries offer text or app alerts.
• Keep a battery or hand crank radio with weather band, and know your local radio stations.
• Follow your national weather service and local emergency management on their official channels. Treat rumors and unofficial posts with caution.
• Know your utility's outage reporting number and keep it on paper. Report outages, since utilities do not always know.
• Save emergency numbers, and see the nɔma ahorow a egye ntɛmpɛ kratafa.
• Keep a printed local map and note shelters and warming centers.
• Agree on a family check in plan and an out of area contact whom everyone can message when local networks are busy.
• Save phone battery by lowering brightness, closing apps, and using low power mode. Send short texts instead of calling.
• If you do not use smartphones, ask a neighbor or the local authorities how they will pass on alerts.

Hwɛ offline smartphone nkwagye for ways to keep information available without a signal.

Protect the house¶

Do these before the storm if there is time, and ideally in autumn.

Pipes and water¶

• Insulate exposed pipes in attics, crawl spaces, garages and outside walls.
• Seal gaps and cracks where cold air gets in around pipes.
• Disconnect and drain garden hoses, and shut off outdoor taps from inside if you can.
• Know where your main water shutoff is, and test it.
• Before a hard freeze, open cabinet doors under sinks and let a faucet drip. See nsu afiri a ayɛ nwini.
• If you will be away, set the thermostat no lower than about 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit), and ask someone to check.

Heat, ventilation and fire safety¶

• Ma wɔnyɛ fononoo, boiler ne chimney no ho adwuma afe biara. Hwɛ ogya a ɛtɔ wɔ afiri a wɔde sɔ gya mu ne asiane a ɛwɔ creosote mu.
• Hwɛ sɛ abɔnten so mframa a wɔde fa mu, te sɛ nea wɔde yɛ fononoo, dryer ne stove no, sukyerɛmma ne nsukyenee nni mu.
• Sɔ wusiw ne carbon monoxide alarm ahorow hwɛ na yɛ akwan abien a wobɛfa so afi mu ho nhyehyɛe. Hwɛ ofie ogya guankɔbea nhyehyɛe.
• Fa weatherstripping, caulk gaps, na fa ahum mfɛnsere anaa mfɛnsere film hyehyɛ mu.

Roof, trees and outside¶

• Clear gutters and downspouts, and check for loose shingles and damage.
• Trim dead and weak branches near the house and power lines, using a professional near lines.
• Know the signs of roof overload and ice dams. See sukyerɛmma adesoa kɔkɔbɔ nsɛnkyerɛnne ne sukyerɛmma a woyi fi ɔdan atifi a ahobammɔ wom.
• Secure outdoor furniture and objects that wind could throw.
• Mark driveway edges and hydrants with stakes so that snow plows and crews can find them.

Vehicles and travel¶

The safest plan in a major storm is to stay home. If you must travel, go before the storm, tell someone your route, and carry a winter kit. Keep the fuel tank at least half full. Never drive through ice, flooded roads or whiteout conditions. If stranded, stay in the vehicle, run the engine for short periods with the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and open a window slightly. See flash freeze ne nsukyenee tuntum a wɔde ka kar na kar a asɛe.

Your 72 hour plan¶

This timeline helps you decide what to do and when. Adjust it for the forecast and for your household.

Written plan for the household¶

Write down answers to these questions and put the page where everyone can see it.

• Where will we stay if the power fails?
• Who in the household has special needs, and what will they need?
• Where is the main water shutoff, the electrical panel and any gas shutoff?
• Who will we call, and who is our out of area contact?
• At what indoor temperature will we leave, and where will we go?
• How will we get alerts and news without power?
• Who will check on the neighbors we worry about?

Staying healthy and calm during a long storm¶

Several days indoors in the cold tests a household. Plan for comfort and morale as well as survival, because tired, cold and anxious people make poor decisions.

Sleep, routine and mood¶

• Keep a routine with set times for meals, warm drinks, checks on pipes and heat, and rest. Routines make a stressful time feel more manageable.
• Take turns watching alarms, heat sources and the radio so that each person can sleep.
• Ma mmofra nnya adagyew wɔ agodie, nhoma, mfoniniyɛ ne dwumadi ahorow a ɛyɛ komm a enhia tumi biara mu. Fa nsɛm a ɛnyɛ den na ɛyɛ nokware kyerɛkyerɛ nea ɛrekɔ so no mu.
• Hwɛ kwan sɛ abufuw ne adwene a ɛba fam. Hwɛ sɛnea obiara te, kyɛ nnwuma mu, na sɛ obi te nka sɛ ne ho nyɛ no dɛ a, kasa ntɛm.
• To nsɛm ho amanneɛbɔ ne sohyial media ano hye sɛ ɛma dadwen kɔ soro a, na hwɛ aban nsɛm foforo wɔ mmere a wɔahyɛ mu na ama woakora batere so.

Hygiene and sanitation¶

Without running water, hygiene still matters. Use hand sanitizer or wipes, and wash hands with stored water before eating and after using the toilet. If the toilet will not flush, pour a bucket of stored water into the bowl, or use a bucket with a bag liner and seal and store the bags outside in a closed container. Keep trash in sealed bags away from living areas.

Moving and exercise¶

Wobɛka wo ho brɛoo ma wo ho yɛ hyew na ɛmma wo ho nyɛ den, titiriw wɔ mpanyimfo a wɔn mfe akɔ anim fam. Gyina hɔ na trɛw wo ho dɔnhwerew biara, na nantew twa dan a ɛhɔ yɛ hyew no ho hyia. Kwati mmɔdenbɔ kɛse ne fifiri a ɛma wo ho tɔ wo akyiri yi. Mfa sofi sukyerɛmma bere a woabrɛ anaasɛ wo ho ayɛ wo nwini no, na kenkan sukyerɛmma a wɔde sɔw sɔw dwoodwoo before you go outside.

Warning signs to act on¶

Take shivering that does not stop, confusion, slurred speech, unusual sleepiness, numb or waxy skin, headache or nausea seriously. These can mean hypothermia, frostbite or carbon monoxide poisoning. Go outside into fresh air if carbon monoxide is possible, and call your local emergency number for any serious sign.

Decision flow for the storm¶

flowchart TD
    A["Winter storm forecast"] --> B["Check supplies, charge devices<br/>and refill medicines"]
    B --> C{"Can you stay warm<br/>safely at home?"}
    C -->|"Dabi"| D["Arrange to stay with others<br/>or leave before the storm"]
    C -->|"Yiw"| E["Set up one warm room<br/>and protect pipes"]
    E --> F["Stay in and follow alerts"]
    F --> G{"Power or heat lost<br/>and room below 10 C or 50 F?"}
    G -->|"Yiw"| H["Go to a warming center<br/>or a relative with power"]
    G -->|"Dabi"| I["Eat, drink, check each other<br/>and keep alarms working"]
    I --> J{"Obiara a ne ti yɛ no yaw,<br/>n’adwene tu fra anaasɛ n’adwene tu fra?"}
    J -->|"Yiw"| K["Kɔ abɔnten na<br/>frɛ ntɛmpɛ nɔma"]
    J -->|"Dabi"| F

Comparing preparedness levels¶

Checklist: winter storm ready¶

• At least 3 days of water and food, and a manual can opener
• Battery or hand crank radio with weather band, flashlights and batteries
• Phones, power banks and chargers fully charged
• Blankets, sleeping bags, warm clothing and a chosen warm room
• Working smoke and battery powered carbon monoxide alarms
• Safe backup heat plan and no fuel burning devices planned for indoor use
• Medicines refilled and a written list of medicines and contacts
• Pet food, water, carrier and a warm place for pets
• Cash, copies of documents and a full fuel tank
• Pipes protected and the main water shutoff known
• A plan to check on neighbors and a point at which you will leave
• Winter kit in the car

After the storm: recovery and review¶

When the weather clears, the work is not finished. Walk around the outside of the house and look for fallen limbs, damaged lines and roof damage before you clear paths. Restore heat gradually, check for frozen or split pipes as they thaw, and test alarms again. Replace the supplies you used while the experience is fresh, and write down what worked, what ran short and what you would change. A short review of ten minutes now makes the next storm much easier. Share what you learned with neighbors, and consider helping a relative or an older neighbor build their own kit.

Nsɛm a wɔtaa bisa¶

How much food and water do I need for a winter storm?¶

Plan for at least 3 days, and ideally a week, with about 4 liters (1 gallon) of water per person per day and food that needs little or no cooking. Include extra calories, since the body burns more in the cold, and add food for babies, pets and special diets. Keep a manual can opener and store everything where you can reach it in the dark.

What is the safest way to stay warm if the power goes out?¶

Stay in one small interior room, block drafts, wear layers and a hat, and use blankets or a sleeping bag. Use only heat sources made for indoor use, with battery powered carbon monoxide alarms, and never a grill, camp stove, gas oven or generator indoors. If the room falls toward 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), go to a warming center or a relative with power.

When should I leave home before a winter storm?¶

Leave early if you cannot keep the home warm, if you depend on powered medical equipment, if the roof or house is at risk, or if authorities advise it. Go before the storm arrives while roads are open, tell someone where you are going, and take medicines, pets and documents. Do not wait until the house is cold or roads are blocked.

How do I protect my pipes from freezing?¶

Insulate exposed pipes, seal gaps that let in cold air, disconnect garden hoses and open cabinet doors under sinks during hard freezes. Let a faucet drip when the temperature drops well below freezing, and know where the main water shutoff is. If you leave home, keep the heat set at about 13 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher.

Sources a wɔhwɛɛ mu¶

This guide was checked against Ready.gov and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (United States) winter weather and power outage pages, the National Weather Service (United States) winter storm preparedness guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (United States) pages on winter weather preparedness and carbon monoxide, the American Red Cross winter storm safety checklist, the Met Office and the UK government Prepare campaign (United Kingdom) advice on winter weather, the National Health Service (United Kingdom) guidance on keeping warm, Get Prepared and Public Safety Canada guidance on winter storms and 72 hours of readiness, and Health Canada pages on extreme cold. Where agencies recommend different quantities or times, this page uses the more cautious figure.

Sua mmoa a edi kan¶

Supplies matter, but skills matter more. A hands-on first aid course from the Red Cross, St John Ambulance or a local provider teaches CPR, treating hypothermia and frostbite, and helping a person who is injured on ice. Book one before winter and bring a household member.

Akwankyerɛ ahorow a ɛfa ho¶

• Awɔw bere mu ahum ahobammɔ: ofie ɔhyew ne awɔw mu nkwagye
• Emergency kit
• Generator ahobammɔ
• Pets in emergencies
• Nsuo afiri a ayɛ nwini