Best ways to prepare for an ice storm

Ice is in the forecast and being as best prepared as possible can make a world of difference once the storm hits your area.

Although ice is pretty upon first glance – especially if you don’t have to go outdoors – the frozen coating can be very dangerous.

We’ve all experienced slipping on the ice at least once in our lives if we live in areas prone to ice storms. Ice can also bring about power outages, downed trees and branches as well as slick driving surfaces. While much of this is not preventable, other than the slipping on ice (best to stay indoors), there are ways to prepare your home for when an ice storm hits.

Inspect and trim any limbs or branches of trees that are over or near your home. If the storm is much closer and there is no time to trim or hire a trimming company, read up to make sure your home or renter’s insurance covers any damage to your house caused by downed trees or branches.

Salt your steps, walkway and/or driveway. This will help to melt the ice that does accumulate on the surfaces you’re bound to walk on. This will help you from slipping.

Gather up supplies ahead of a possible power outage. This can include blankets, coats, hats, scarves, non-perishable food, bottled water, flashlight, phone chargers and extra batteries, a battery-powered radio and a first-aid kit. Also make sure you have copies of important documents with you and medication if you need to move to another location during a power outage.

If you plan on using a portable generator, make sure you have the gas to power it. In addition, be sure to have plenty of ventilation for it and keep it outdoors. These can quickly become hazardous if not used correctly, causing house fires or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Don’t forget your pets! Make sure they have plenty of food and water and that they are brought indoors ahead of the storm.

The next best thing you can do in addition to preparing for the ice storm is to keep a close eye on the forecast for your area. Ice forecasts can change quickly depending on the temperatures. You can watch the formation of this storm on our interactive WeatherRadar and stay up to date right here as we keep a close eye on the system.