If you’ve got a strong blizzard or snowstorm coming your way, your most pressing concern is to ensure the safety of your family and your property. A powerful and prolonged blizzard can easily leave you trapped inside your home without power and running water with no way to contact the emergency services. Thus, you need to ensure that you have everything you need to remain safe and secure.
In this article, you will learn what to expect with a strong blizzard, how to secure your home, what supplies you will need, and why it’s important to hire a company with snow removal insurance to deal with the piled up snow after the storm.
Understanding Snow Warnings
If you live in an area that experiences frequent and strong snowstorms, you need to receive updated and real-time information from the National Weather Service. You can also use mobile apps such as AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Dark Sky, or WeatherBug.
There are three common warnings for snowstorms that are used by weather monitoring agencies and organizations, namely:
· Winter Storm Watch
If you receive this kind of update, this means that there is the possibility of a strong snowstorm in your area within the next 36 to 48 hours. You should keep an ear out for possible escalations and more urgent updates, as well as take necessary precautions to safeguard your family and property.
· Winter Storm Advisory
For this kind of update, you will experience moderate snowfall that’s enough to cause some inconvenience such as minor damage to your property or short power outages. You might also experience some difficulty in leaving your home as there would be a moderate buildup of snow around your property.
· Winter Storm Warning
Receiving this warning means that there is a severe and possibly life-threatening snowstorm headed your way within the next 24 hours. You should do all that is necessary to prepare for long periods without power, outside communication, or even running water. You should also stock supplies such as non-perishable food and water.
What to Do BEFORE a Snowstorm Hits
If you receive a winter storm advisory or warning, you should immediately begin preparing your home, property, and family for the incoming bad weather.
Inspect your home’s structure to ensure that it will hold up to the incoming snow, especially your roof and gutters. Secure all the entrances of your home, particularly your doors and windows, as drafts can dramatically decrease the temperature inside your home.
Prepare a winter emergency kit that includes a strong, battery-powered radio, medical supplies, emergency blankets, and a shovel. You should also learn first-aid techniques against frostbite and hypothermia.
If the weather agencies predict a long blizzard, you should also check if your generator is in good running condition and if it has enough fuel.
What to Do DURING the Snowstorm
When the snowstorm hits, you should always keep an eye on the temperature inside your home. If you still have power, increase the thermostat to the highest setting possible so that you and your family are kept warm. Turn on all your faucets to a slow drip to prevent the water from freezing up in the pipes. Stay warm by wearing thick clothing and drink water as much as possible to stay hydrated.
What to Do AFTER a Snowstorm
Once a snowstorm passes and you are sure that the weather has cleared up, it is time for you to clean up and repair anything that was damaged during the storm.
Your first concern is clearing the snow that has built up around your home and property. Unless it’s a minor buildup that can be tackled with a snow shovel, you should call a professional snow removal company to help clear the snow from your property. Snow removal can be laborious and even dangerous and that’s why you need a firm with proper licenses and a solid snow removal insurance. This will ensure any damage caused during the removal is covered by insurance. Snow plowing trucks can cause damage such as break the outdoor tiles of your home, knock down snow-covered mailboxes and damage the driveway. Damages during snow removal is routine and it’s the snow removal company’s responsibility to get insurance to pay for any damages caused to their clients’ properties.
After the snow has been cleared, get a licensed electrician to check all the electrical wiring in and around your home to ensure that no damage has been done. If there is any damage, make sure to get it repaired as soon as possible. You should also get your home checked to see if there is any structural damage caused by the storm, particularly on your roof.