Skip to main content

How to stay safe during a winter storm, according to FEMA

Hear a winter storm weather report? Here's what to do before and during the storm to stay safe

The weather outside is about to get frightful. Snow days and winter storms may have been something you rooted for during your carefree childhood days. Getting a day off from school before “distance learning” became a thing and canceled snow days forever in some places like New York City was a fun surprise, especially if you had a math test that day.

Adulting is hard, and the innocence of winter fun may be replaced by nerves every time you hear a snowstorm weather report. You may worry about your health, safety, home, and vehicle — particularly if snow days aren’t an option where you work. 

Recommended Videos

Knowledge is empowering. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a handy graphic about winter snowstorm preparedness, and someone on Reddit did the Internet a solid by sharing it in the self-reliance sub-Reddit.

Here’s what to know about winter storm safety, according to FEMA.

car driving under bridge during snow storm
Image used with permission by copyright holder

What you can do now to prep for winter storms

A snowstorm weather report can take you by surprise. However, you can get ready before the weather person even gives a forecast for the first flurry of the year.

FEMA suggests:

  • Knowing your area. Some places are more prone to winter storms than others ( Vermont and Michigan: Yes, Los Angeles and Palm Springs: Probably not, but crazier things have happened.) 
  • Be ready to give your home a hand. Ensure insulation is up to snuff. Weatherstrip and caulk to protect against leakage. Do you know how to keep pipes from freezing? Do a quick Google search while you have an Internet connection (storms can knock out power and WiFi). Be sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work (these are important all year).
  • Look out for reports. You can joke about the accuracy of the weather person all you want — it’s better to prepare for the worst and be relieved if it doesn’t pan out. The Emergency Alert System can also give you a heads-up about pending storms in your community right on your phone.

What to do during a storm

When the storm arrives, you can keep yourself and others safe by taking a few steps.

  • Check on your neighbors. It takes a village. Make sure everyone is safe.
  • Stay off the roads. If you don’t need to be on the roads, stay home.
  • Stay inside. When the snow is softly falling, a walk in a winter wonderland can be fun. During a winter snowstorm, it can be unsafe and cause trips, slips, and frostbite. There will be plenty of time to build a snowperson when the storm passes. 

Health tips

Winter snow storms can be health hazards. Protect yourself by knowing the risks, signs, and symptoms. 

  • Know your limits. Listen to your body. If you feel like you’re over-exerting yourself while shoveling snow, take a breather and ask for help. If you’re at higher risk for a heart attack, consider enlisting assistance before the storm arrives.
  • Frostbite watch. Numb, white, gray-yellow, or waxy skin frostbite red flags. Go into a warm room and soak in warm water. Avoid massage and heating pads.
  • Hypothermia flags. If you’re shivering, confused, and physically and cognitively discombobulated, you may have hypothermia. Get to a warm room and start heating the center of your body (chest, neck, head, and groin.) Stay dry and wrap yourself in warm blankets.

If you feel your health or life is at risk, call 9-1-1.

BethAnn Mayer
Beth Ann's work has appeared on healthline.com and parents.com. In her spare time, you can find her running (either marathons…
How to stay warm at a football game: The tips, tricks, and products you need
Keep warm and carry on with the best cold-weather tips and gear for surviving this football season
snow falling in football stadium

It's weird to think that fall is just around the corner, and that means it's about time for football and tailgating season. It also means packing, dressing, and prepping for long and potentially cold days outdoors enjoying both. Here's our essential guide for knowing how to stay warm at a football game this season with the best tips, tricks, and gear.
Check the game-day weather forecast

It seems obvious, but checking the local hourly weather forecast in advance to know how and what to pack is key. Preparing for a brisk but dry fall day is significantly different than prepping for a slushy, frigid December night game. If you're planning to tailgate before and/or after the game, you'll also want to check the extended forecast.
Dress for the cold in layers

Read more
George R.R. Martin apparently has some new pages done for ‘The Winds of Winter’
Martin is making progress, but not as much as he wanted to.
khaleesi-dragons-game-of-thrones

Anyone who follows the world of Game of Thrones closely knows that it has been 13 years since George R.R. Martin published the last book in what was supposed to be a seven-book series, A Dance with Dragons. Fans have been eagerly waiting for Martin to publish the sixth book, The Winds of Winter, and Martin himself has pushed the timetable for publication back over and over again.

Now, Martin has offered an update on the novel that is both encouraging and a little disappointing. On his Not a Blog page, he announced that he had written new pages for both The Winds of Winter and Blood & Fire, his latest anthology book. At the same time, though, Martin admitted that he was disappointed that he hadn't done more.

Read more
What is a tailgate party? How to tailgate like a pro
Ever wonder what a tailgate party is? Learn how to throw this fan-favorite bonding event
A tailgate party at sunset

When you hear of a tailgate party, you probably think of college football games where people go crazy in the parking lot. While that is a probable scenario, tailgating is so much more than cracking open a beer in the back of someone's truck waiting for the event to start. It brings fans together in a way only those types of events can do. What is a tailgate party? Here are the ins and outs of this tradition and how to enjoy being a part of one.
The tailgating details

Tailgating is a large gathering of fans before a big event like a concert, festival, or sports game. It wouldn't be a tailgating party without music, games, food, and drinks, using the tail (also known as the boot or trunk) of your car to hold everything. Sounds a little like an ancient feast or something, doesn't it? If you have a large family that throws a party for every occasion, it's like taking that and putting it in a parking lot.
Where you tailgate
To throw a tailgating party, you need space. You need room for all the cars, so you can't do it somewhere like downtown with only one-way streets. Tailgating parties happen in parking lots or open fields connected to the event the people are there for.

Read more