Winter Storms and Your Home

Winter Storms and Your Home

Winter storms can bring freezing temperatures, large quantities of snow and ice, high winds and blizzard conditions. Damage to your home or power outages lasting several days may be possible. Preparing before the storm can help you protect your family and your home.

Use this checklist to make plans for your home before, during, and after a winter storm situation.

Winter Storms and Your Home [PDF]

Related Websites

About Winter Weather
Website discussing dangers of winter weather to human health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Natural Disasters: Snow and Ice
Website of resources for reducing illness and injury during severe winter conditions.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Ready.gov: Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
Website with information on what to do before, during and after a winter storm as well as information on possible flooding.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Severe Weather 101: Winter Weather Basics
Website discussing the dangers of winter storms.
National Weather Service and American Red Cross
Winter Weather Forcasts
Website with winter weather forecasts, including probability maps.
National Weather Service

Additional Resources

Preparing Before the Storm

Be Prepared: Staying Safe and Healthy in Winter
Website discussing how to prepare for winter weather.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Be Red Cross Ready: Winter Storm Safety Checklist
Factsheet containing checklists to aid in preparing for a storm as well as maintaining safety after the storm has passed.
American Red Cross (ARC)
Winter Storm Preparedness and Response: Safety at Home and While Traveling
Factsheet discussing measures to take to protect your family from the many hazards of winter weather at home or on the road.
University of Wisconsin Extension
Winter Weather: Tips for Coping with Severe Winter Weather
Information on staying safe during severe winter weather.
South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service

Protecting Your Home

Ice Dam Prevention on Roofs: Simple Ways to Alleviate the Problem
Factsheet discussing way to prevent ice dams on roofs.
University of Wisconsin Extension
Protecting Plumbing During a Winter Storm: Care of Utilities and Appliances When the Power is Out
Factsheet discussing measures to take to reduce the chance of frozen pipes and what to do when pipes freeze.
University of Wisconsin Extension
Staying Warm in an Unheated House: Coping With a Power Outage in Winter
Factsheet discussing ways to keep warm and safety factors if the power goes out in the winter.
University of Wisconsin Extension
Winter Weather: Tips for Coping with Severe Winter Weather
Information on staying safe during severe winter weather.
South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service