Preparing For Winter Emergencies in NH: Things you should have on hand and think about.

The recent 35 car pile-up in Ashland remind us that while frequently harsh, NH winters can sometimes be brutal and at other times deadly.

Remember the 2008 December ice storm? It left 1.25 million homes in the northeast without power, including 400,000 in NH. Several NH citizens died and untold thousands were left shivering for days!

When power outages occur they're usually commingled Preparation for winter emergencies in NH can help you be more safe and more comfortable.

Preparation for winter emergencies in NH can help you be more safe and more comfortable.

with abundant cold weather, downed limbs (and occasionally winter floods) and severely curtailed access to basic supplies. And you know the kicker, right? When you're out buying supplies for an approaching storm, so is everyone else. If you get caught short and need help, so does everyone else, straining emergency response systems. And even if you have loved ones willing to help, they'll have their own problems. Do you want them to have to brave the storm (read: the dangers) for your lack of preparedness?

The best thing you can do is prepare now, while not under a threat. An ounce of prevention... you know the old saying.

Ready.gov recommends you have a 3 day supply of the following:

An emergency kit containing:

1 Gallon of water per person per day

Non-Perishable food

Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio, with extra batteries

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Signal whistle

Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

Manual food can opener

Local maps

Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

Also:

Rock salt for driveways, walkways

Sand for traction

Snow shovels

Ample heating fuel

Adequate clothing and blankets

They also have additional items that you should consider.

Personally, I believe that you should also expand your emergency supplies to 7 days and have the following:

A full tank of gas

Jumper cables

Emergency candles

A camping style propane stove with two to three 16.4oz bottles of propane. (Caution: read the stove instructions thoroughly to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.)

A Xenon Strobe ($20-25) and batteries.

In December 2008 many NH homes were without power for more than a week. In very bad circumstances, cell towers could also be interrupted, leaving you without an easy ability to summon emergency responders. A strobe can help notify them, and save time when bringing them to your home by helping them to identify it when curbside numbers, etc. are obscured or visibility is poor.

My cousins in Ontario reported that they had to use car chargers for cell phones. If you don't have one, they might be handy too.

For more information, do read www.Ready.gov.

About the Author

George C. Jobel does web development and SEO consulting and has been helping clients develop successful online & multimedia marketing since 1995. The author of numerous articles and publications, George taught web development and marketing classes for over 10 years. You can reach him at his web site, or 603.491.4340.

Preparing For Winter Emergencies in NH

Helping you safely navigate NH winter emergencies!