Ice Storm Prep

Snowstorms get the headlines, but ice storms often do more damage. Freezing rain coats trees and power lines with ice, and the weight brings them down. Whole regions can lose power for days. Even a quarter inch of ice can bring down branches and lines.

01Why ice storms are so bad

• Weight: ice adds a lot of weight to trees and lines.
• Widespread outages: the damage covers huge areas, so crews are stretched thin.
• Roads: glare ice makes driving dangerous, and crews can't get around.
• Cold: outages usually come with cold weather.

02Before the season

The house

• Backup heat and power: see heating your home without power, safely and how to size a backup generator.
• CO alarms with battery backup on every level.
• Know how to protect pipes. See frozen pipes during an outage.
• Sump pump backup if you have a basement. See keeping the sump pump running.

The yard

• Trim trees that hang over the house, driveway or power lines into your house. Call a pro for anything near utility lines, and never trim near power lines yourself.
• Remove dead branches before winter.

Supplies

• Ice melt and sand for steps and walks.
• Lights and batteries. See candles vs. lanterns vs. headlamps.
• Food and water for several days. See 72-hour kit.
• A weather radio. See NOAA weather radios.

03When freezing rain is forecast

• Charge everything: phones, power banks, power stations.
• Fill the car's gas tank.
• Fill bathtubs and jugs with water for flushing and washing.
• Turn the fridge and freezer colder so food stays cold longer.
• Park away from trees if you can.
• Bring in or tie down outdoor items.
• Check on neighbors, especially older ones.

04During the storm

• Stay home and off the roads.
• Stay away from trees that are creaking and dropping branches.
• Report outages to your utility.

05After the storm

• Treat every downed line as live. Stay far away, keep kids and pets away, and call the utility or 911.
• Watch for falling branches and ice for a day or two after the storm.
• Use generators outdoors only, far from windows and doors. See generator safety.
• Chainsaw work on downed trees is one of the most dangerous jobs after a storm. Wear protective gear, and leave big or tangled trees to pros.

06Expect a long outage

In a major ice storm, power can be out for days or even more than a week in hard-hit areas. Plan for it. See how long Midwest power outages really last.

Sources (2)

National Weather Service: Winter storm safety; Ready.gov: Winter weather.

Photo: Flickr - The U.S. Army - www.Army.mil (165).jpg) by The U.S. Army, Public domain.