Matt Van Swol@mattvanswol
A lot of people have asked for a comprehensive preparedness list for the winter storm.
Feel free to bookmark this or share with friends, stay safe out there:
⛽️ Gas up every car (and top off any cans if you’ve got them)
💵 Pull cash — assume card readers go down
🔋 Charge everything: phones, battery packs, laptops, tool batteries
🔌 Make one “charging pile” with all cords so nobody’s hunting
🔦 Headlamp for every adult + flashlight for every kid
🏮 Lanterns for the main rooms (no candles… kids + candles = nope)
🔋 Fresh batteries in a big ziplock — label it
🏠 Pick ONE “warm room” right now (small room, easiest to heat)
🚪 Shut doors to the rest of the house
🧣 Blankets over windows at night + towels at the bottom of doors
🛏️ Drag mattresses/pads in there if you need to
🧤 Lay out clothes like it’s ski season: base layer + hoodie + coat + hat + thick socks
👟 Slippers/shoes indoors — cold floors will wreck you
🧦 Dry clothes only — damp socks = change them immediately
⚠️ Generator = OUTSIDE only (not garage, not “cracked door,” OUTSIDE)
🚨 CO alarms working on every floor, especially near bedrooms
🔌 Use outdoor-rated extension cords only — don’t run cords under rugs
🙅♂️ Don’t do any “dryer plug” stuff — not worth dying for
⛽️ Fuel stays OUTSIDE the house
✅ If you’re using a heater: only indoor-rated
🔥 Keep it away from blankets/curtains/kids
🌬️ Crack a window just a tiny bit
😴🚫 Never sleep with a flame heater on
💧 Water: plan 1 gallon per person per day minimum
🪣 Fill bathtub/buckets for flushing/washing
🚱 On a well? Assume ZERO water once power is out
🔧 Find the main water shutoff now (don’t wait)
🚰 When it’s brutally cold: let faucets drip (if water’s still on)
🧊 Open sink cabinets on outside walls
🧣 Wrap exposed pipes / cover outdoor spigots
🧯 Disconnect hoses
🥫 Food: buy 7 days of no-cook / easy stuff
🍞 Stock basics: PB, tuna, crackers, granola, soup, jerky, shelf milk, cereal
🗝️ Manual can opener
🍽️ Paper plates if you don’t want to burn water on dishes
❄️ Fridge/freezer: open it as little as possible
✅ Eat fridge first, then freezer, then pantry
💊 Refill prescriptions
🤒 Kids fever meds + thermometer + first-aid kit
⚡️ CPAP/nebulizer/anything critical: have a power plan
🧼 Baby wipes + sanitizer + trash bags
🪣 No water? Bucket toilet plan (bucket + bags + kitty litter)
🎲 Make a “kid station” in the warm room: books, coloring, cards, board games
🎬 Download movies ahead of time (airplane mode)
🚫 Clear rules: no touching heaters, no cords, no generator zone
🌙🏮 Lantern by hallway/bathroom at night
🧸 One comfort thing per kid in the warm room
📱 Phones: low power mode + dim screen
📝 Write down important numbers on paper
📞 Pick a check-in time with family/friends (morning + evening)
🚗❄️ Don’t drive unless you have to — ice will humble you fast
🧰 Car kit: blanket, flashlight, snacks, water, jumper pack
🚘⚠️ If you run the car for heat: clear the tailpipe and never in an enclosed space
✅ Every morning: quick safety sweep
🚨🔥 CO alarms good, heater clear, cords not hot
🌡️💧 Watch for leaks when things thaw
🤝 Check on neighbors if you can
🗑️ Toss sketchy food when power comes back
⚡️ Bring the house back online slowly (don’t flip everything at once)
