Winter Safety Tips: How To Prepare For a Blizzard

The following winter safety tips are intended to provide you with safety and reassurance in the event of a major blizzard, white-out, snowstorm or other extreme winter weather event.

Living in Alberta, or anywhere else for that matter, where weather changes include blizzards, we know how cold and miserable it can get both inside our homes, outside and even inside our vehicles during a catastrophe. Preparing for winter while it’s happening is stressful and difficult – it’s a much better idea to be prepared in advance with these safety tips for winter storms.

To prevent a situation that jeopardizes the safety of you and your family here are some helpful tips and tricks to get you prepared for any blizzard or snow storm before it happens.

In terms of snow storm supplies it is always a good idea to have a snow storm safety kit ready to go and easily accessible. Whether you keep one in your home, vehicle, or both, a blizzard safety kit can help you get through a cold, difficult and potentially life-threatening situation.

Here are two lists of useful items to include in your winter safety kit for both your home and your vehicle as a blizzard safety precaution.

Winter Safety Kit Checklist: For Your Vehicle

• Ensure safe driving in winter by having winter tires put on your vehicle
• Cell phone with extra battery and charger
• Shovel
• Window Scraper
• Booster Cables
• Flashlight
• Snack Food
• Chains or Rope
• Blankets, Hats, Mittens, Extra Coats and Winter Safety Boots
• Emergency Flares
• First Aid Kit
• Tool Kit
• Road Maps and Compass
• Waterproof Matches and a Can to Melt Snow for Water
• Paper Towel

Snow Storm Supplies Checklist: For Your Home

• Water and Food – a 3-Day Supply
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• First Aid Kit
• Medications – 7-Day Supply
• Multi-Purpose Tool
• Copies of Personal Documents
• Cells Phones with Chargers and Extra Batteries
• Extra Cash
• Baby and Pet Supplies
• Sand, Rock Salt, or Non-Clumping Kitty Litter – to make walkways and steps less slippery
• Ample Alternative Heating Methods – such as fireplaces or wood-or-coal-burning stoves

Once you have your preparedness bags/packages ready, consider the following steps to take to ensure your home and vehicle are winter ready in the event of a blizzard:

How To Stay Safe in a Snowstorm: at Home or in Your Vehicle

Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
Winter heating safety tip: insulate your home by installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic from the inside to keep cold air out.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year.
If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set the temperature to no lower than 12 degrees celcius.
Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously (to avoid having water lines freeze and burst causing water damage to your home).

By preparing for a snow storm in the above-suggested ways, you can protect both your home and your vehicle from potential losses.

You will also prevent yourself from having to file a claim with your insurance company. By knowing how to prepare for a blizzard or snow storm you will avoid dangerous situations and come out of them without any problems.

For example, driving with winter tires may be enough to stop your vehicle from sliding into another one during a blizzard.

This will save you from potential injuries to both parties and having damage to your vehicle requiring costly and time-consuming insurance claims.