8 Winter Prepping Tips

Winter is here. It’s the time of year when squirrels stock up on acorns and bears go into hibernation. But what does a prepper do to survive the cold?

As any good prepper knows, surviving in a changing environment means adapting to new dangers. Depending on our location, we may face blizzards and frostbite instead of hurricanes and sunburns. The same prepping strategy will not protect you from both, so we’ve come up with 8 tips to help you prep specifically for the winter season.

1. Ensure You Have Propper Clothing. Make sure you and your family have warm sweaters and parkas, rain jackets, waterproof boots, snow cleats (depending on where you live), hats, scarves, and gloves. Kids grow out of essential gear quickly and adult clothing can be worn-out and no longer effective. Having the proper warm clothing is vital to staying healthy during the cold season.
2. Check for Gaps around Windows. If there are gaps around any doors or windows that can fit a credit card, you are going to lose a tremendous amount of heat (and money). Use all-weather, silicone caulk on the outside of frames to fill these spaces. Installing an attic stairway cover can also increase insulation in an area that usually allows heat to escape.
3. Generate Heat. It is important to get a generator before you need one and to learn to use it properly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. If the power goes out in the winter, you’re going to want a way to stay warm. Other things to consider investing in include wool blankets and solar heaters.
4. Prepare for Flooding. In a warm spell, or as spring approaches, melting snow can cause flooding. If you live in an area prone to flooding or if you have a basement, you should get a sump pump to remove water. All it takes is a major snow melt or rapid downpour to cause damaging problems.
5. Master Snow Removal. The most important aspect of being prepared to deal with snow is having the correct equipment. Get a high-quality aluminum snow shovel, snow broom, calcium chloride ice melt, and salt. Ensure that anything you have left from the previous winter is in good condition before the first major snowfall.
6. Bring Hoses and Sprinklers Inside. Leaving hoses and sprinklers outside can cause damage, especially if they have sitting water in them. Freezing water can cause leaks and holes and can damage the taps connected to the house. Drain the water out of them and bring them into your garage.
7. Prep Outdoor Machinery for the Cold. Use a fuel stabilizer in any motors that won’t be used for a while. It will keep the fuel from expiring and going thick so that when winter is over your lawnmower engine won’t be clogged with expired fuel.
8. Prep Your Car for Winter. Winter road conditions can be daunting. Check your windshield wipers, ensure you have ice scrapers in your glovebox, and get chains for your tires. Put together a car kit to keep handy for any surprise emergencies.
   

Whether you live in North Carolina or New York, winter preparation is vitally important. With these simple steps, you can prepare your family for a long, cold winter. The less time you have to spend retroactively handling crises, the more time you can spend going on winter outings with friends and family.