After this week's snowfall, it's safe to say that winter is upon us! Now is the time to make sure you and your home are prepared for the cold season. Here are the essential items and tips for staying safe through a winter emergency:

preventing carbon monoxide poisoning

You've probably booted up the furnace already, but did you take safety precautions first? Winter poses the biggest risk for carbon monoxide poisoning because it can be found in the fumes from heating devices, such as furnaces, generators, and heaters. With windows shut for the season, it's even easier for CO to become a big problem very quickly. Improperly maintained fuel burning devices are often the culprit of carbon monoxide poisoning, so it's important to inspect furnaces and fireplaces before using them. Generators should never be used inside and should be placed 10-15 feet away from your home. You should have a CO detector on every floor and close to bedrooms. Press the Test/Reset button on your alarm to confirm that the LED, electronics, and sound are working. To make sure your detector is accurately sensing CO levels, you can purchase a CO test can and spray it directly on the detector. It's also important to know what kind of detector you have as there are several types with different lifespans. If you have a gas stove, use your kitchen exhaust everytime you cook. 

protecting your roof

Winter can take a serious toll on roofs so it's vital you take maintenance precautions. One of the biggest causes of ice dams is heat leaking from your home. The snow on your roof should be the same temperature or colder than the temperature of the outside air. When this is the case, snow melts from the top layer down. If inadequate insulation or weather stripping is releasing heat from your attic, the bottom layer will melt first then freeze at the roof edges. This creates a dam as it blocks further runoff. So first and foremost, inspect your attic. Make sure all ventilation is being directed outside and not into the attic. Seal attic doors, windows, pipes, and vents. Evaluate whether your attic is sufficiently insulated. Ice dams often form in roof valleys, around chimneys and skylights, and at the eaves. If you have a minimal issue with water buildup, know what area is causing the problem, or need a quick fix to prevent further damage, professionally installed heat cables can be helpful. You can also lessen the damage of ice dams with a calcium chloride ice melter. Applying this directly to your roof could cause shingle damage, so put the ice melter in socks or pantyhouse then lay it across the roof or in gutters. 

keep pipes from freezing

Don't forget to turn off all outside valves and disconnect hoses. When temps are freezing, keep water flowing by letting a faucet on an outside wall drip. Make sure the water is warm overnight. You can also keep your cabinets open to warm up un-insulated pipes on the outside wall. Exposed pipes are much more likely to freeze, so make sure pipes in your crawl and attic are insulated. Adjust the settings on your thermostat if you use varying temps throughout the day. During extreme colds, it's best to set your thermostat to one constant temperature to avoid freezing pipes and put less strain on your furnace. 

items for your home emergency kit

• 1 gallon of water per person, per day (have a 2 week home supply and at least a 3 day supply in the event of evacuation)
• A few days worth of nonperishable items such as canned goods, granola bars, trail mix, and crackers
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and flashlights
• Backup battery charger for cell phone
• Blankets and sleeping bags
• Battery-powered lanterns and candles
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Multi-purpose tool or wrench for turning off utilities
• Enough sanitation products to get through a few days (hygiene supplies, toilet paper, hand soap, disinfectant, garbage bags, etc.)
• If a storm is coming and you're low on a prescription medication, see if your doctor can fill a 7 day emergency prescription to cover you if you can't leave home for several days 
• Make sure important documents are off the ground in case of flooding, preferably stored in a waterproof and/or fireproof box

emergency items to keep in your car

• Ice scraper
• Use deicing windshield fluid
• A small or collapsible shovel
• Non-clumping kitty litter or sand in case your car gets stuck on ice
• A blanket and winter gear
• A flashlight and matches in a waterproof container
• A brightly colored cloth that you can tie to your antenna so other cars/emergency vehicles can see you
• Emergency flares
• First aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Small tool kit
• Cell phone charger
• A couple bottles of water and nonperishable snacks
• Keep your gas tank full to prevent the fuel line from freezing