Winter

(1) Personal needs and safety:

• Fall prevention resources – spread sand, cat litter, or salt on walkways and steps to prevent
  slips and falls, use a cane or walking stick to aid in walking. The elderly and children should not be on slippery / frozen walk areas to prevent catastrophic falls.

• Prescription Medication and Over the Counter – inventory your medical and health needs and purchase as soon as possible. Make a list and keep with you for quick reference.

• Warm Dry Clothing and Blankets – have multiple layers of clothing, waterproof boots, hats, 
  gloves, scarfs, coats, collect warm blankets and sleeping bags for common sleeping areas to maintain room heat and be as close as possible.

• Food, drinking water, cooking options for power outages – fill propane bottles for your outdoor 
  grills, stock plenty of food that does not require cooking or heating, have manual can opener, 
  clean water, extra jugs for water transport, look at your camping gear for supplies. See food items suggested for winter storms on websites below. Stock up now to avoid long lines.

Food items for winter storms references –
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/15/us/winter-storm-preparation-groceries-wellness/index.html
https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/best-foods-to-eat-to-survive-a-wintercold/670949
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/food-items-winter-storm/
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/winter-storm-preparation-food-list/
https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/hurricane-food/

• Have plenty of water and beverages that can be easily stored and prepared. Don’t forget
  coffee, tea and other enjoyable beverages and have an easy method to prepare. Remember drinking alcoholic beverages in stressful conditions can cause problems with dehydration.

• Lighting and heating sources for power outages; firewood, firewood starters, flashlights with 
  extra batteries, camping lanterns, candles being the least safe and effective.

• Carbon Monoxide Detector for in home use in sleeping and living areas.

• Fire prevention – keep all space heaters under constant watch and keep fire extinguishers in the kitchen, living areas, and sleeping areas. Watch that extra clothing and bedding are a fire hazard.

• Sanitation – prefill several two-gallon jug containers with outdoor hose water for flushing toilets
  during electricity outages, secure a source such as pool water or rain barrels to refill containers 
  until electricity is back operating. Consider outdoor toilet use to save your septic system from overuse until electricity is back. Contact your septic system service company for specific advice.

• Cell phone charging – remember cold weather will stress and drain your phone battery more than usual, consider purchasing cell phone charger batteries.