10 key NC winter storm prep and safety steps

This weekend could bring a significant winter storm to central North Carolina, the first to occur in years.

Snow and ice are relatively rare here, so it’s easy to underestimate how disruptive they can be. The National Weather Service warns of prolonged power outages and hazardous travel. Even small amounts of ice can take down trees and power lines, which can mean going without heat or internet.

“Plan to simply stay put and ride this out at home for an extended period of time,” the Weather Service’s Raleigh office advised.

There’s time to prepare before you hunker down. Here are 10 ways to get started.

Prepare for outages.

Assume you may go without electricity. This is especially dangerous for seniors and people who rely on oxygen or refrigerated medications. So charge your phones and charging banks now, and sign up for the Federal Emergency Management Agency app and your community’s emergency alerts.

Refill your prescriptions.

Two-thirds of adults take prescription drugs, and Novant Health specialty pharmacists can help refill them ahead of a potential emergency. Depending on the weather, you can access telehealth resources, like video visits, when a storm presents in-person care.

Check on family, friends and neighbors.

Staying in contact is important, but not always a guarantee during a storm. Connect now. And remember that the cold often turns worse after precipitation passes. Check in with people with limited mobility. Connecting can help keep us calm ahead of a stressful weather event.

Cats and dogs count as family, too. Make sure your pets are indoors and warm. Have supplies of their food and medication on hand.

Use generators with caution.

Never operate one indoors or in garages. Deadly carbon monoxide can build quickly. Don’t refuel while it’s running or still hot. Read your instruction manual. Also, it's not safe to heat your kitchen with a gas oven. Stoves and oven are meant for short-term use and present multiple risks.

Stay off the roads.

Crews need space to salt and plow streets. If you must travel, don’t leave without a first-aid kit, scraper, jumper cables and tow rope. Fewer cars on the road reduces accidents and allows crews to focus on critical needs.

Stock up on essentials.

Take an inventory of food, water, household supplies and toiletries. Aim for at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, plus several days’ worth of nonperishable food. If you lose power, perishable food can go into a cooler with ice, but keep the temperature 40 or below to prevent growth of bacteria.

Don’t forget baby formula and diapers.

Protect your pipes.

Allow your faucets to drip to prevent freezing pipes. Otherwise, they could burst and flood your home. Help prevent this by opening cabinet doors under sinks for warm air to circulate.

Have some ice-melter on hand.

Although snow often melts quickly in the Carolinas, shaded spots on your roof can have snow dripping and refreezing on the driveway overnight. If you have trouble spots like that, you can treat them in advance and spare someone a nasty fall. Ice-melting salt products are widely available at hardware stores and supercenters like Walmart.

Repurpose your hurricane prep kit.

You can pull together first-aid items like bandages and antibiotic ointments.

Use flashlights, not candles.

Grab extra batteries to keep your radio and bedside flashlights working.