Start Preparing Now For Winter In Buffalo, New York

Whether you like it or not, there are pretty much only two things that are sure to happen in New York State: high taxes and snowy winters.

Now, as a people, if we band together as voters, we can maybe do something about the taxes. Unfortunately, there's not much that we can do about the weather. Since we're locked in with having to deal with cold and snow every winter, the best thing we can do is ensure we're properly prepared for the snowflakes when they begin to fly.

If there is anything we learned from the last two winters, it is that if you stay ready, you won't need to get ready.

Many government agencies around the nation offer very good tips on things to do to make sure you're ready for a weather emergency. The State of New York, National Weather Service, CDC, US Department of Homeland Security, and several other agencies, plus several not-for-profit organizations like the American Red Cross, have created resource lists of steps and items to make sure you have on hand to be able to adequately prepared to survive an emergency in the winter.

Several government officials have said that we should be able to survive on our own for a few days if first responders can't get to us right away.

After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency.
-US Department of Homeland Security

I remember vividly how long we were stuck inside during the Buffalo Blizzard of 2022 and how much trouble I would've been in if I was prepared. That said, I have gone over all the lists available and come up with some of the top tips:

Have A Plan

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have a storm prep plan. This will include, but not be limited to, knowing when and where a storm is coming, having a communication plan for your family and other important people, and knowing ahead of time where your supplies are and where the various types of shelters are, and being ready to act when things happen.

The CDC and Red Cross both recommend that you have actual emergency contact cards with important numbers and maps to important places on hand and stored in a safe place.

Prep Your Home

A big part of having your plan together is making sure your home is ready and prepared for winter weather.

Before a storm comes, you should take steps to keep cold air out of your house by updating your insulation, caulking, and applying weather stripping. You can also put insulation on your pipes to help keep them from freezing and make sure your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have battery backups in working order.

While you're at it in the house, you should also gather enough supplies for 3 to 7 days. When you do this planning, make sure you consider the needs of each person in your household (including any pets).

Those supplies should include food, water, medicine, extra batteries, and device chargers. Also, ensure you have enough warm clothing, like hats, gloves, and blankets for everyone.

Prep Yourself

Once you have your house prepped, you must ensure you have everything you need, just in case you have to go outside in a storm or leave your home if you lose power. If this happens, plan to dress properly. Keep your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes covered in warm, dry clothes because these are the first body parts at risk for frostbite. Also, make sure you are wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing.

If your house gets too cold, make sure you know where you're going ahead of time and let people know that as well.

Gather Necessary Information to Stay Updated

One of the biggest things I noticed is that people said they did not know the last two storms would be as bad as they were. One way to make sure this doesn't happen again is to make sure you are getting the proper updates from reputable sources. This includes New York State, Erie County, the City of Buffalo, and your favorite radio station.

Having these apps on your devices and turning on the alerts can ensure you are in the know the next time something urgent happens.