8 Tips To Prepare For A Winter Storm In Davidson

DAVIDSON, NC — It's been four years since the Lake Norman Area received a significant amount of snow, and the forecast indicates wintery precipitation is in the cards this weekend.

With snowflakes or ice in the forecast, there are some steps to take in advance to prepare in case roads are impassable or the power goes out, and you're probably going to want to have more than just milk and bread handy.

Here are some tips you can share for those who may not have encountered winter weather before or for those who might need a reminder how to get prepared.

1) Bring pets, plants inside. You're going to want to go ahead and give your pets and plants a safe, warm place to ride the storm out. If there are vulnerable plants outside that can't be brought in, now is the time to cover them with a tarp. If you have large outdoor animals like livestock, have a plan to get them fresh water that won't freeze.

2) Prepare your car. The CDC recommends you check the antifreeze levels in your car in advance of a winter storm and add more as needed. Windshield wiper fluid can also freeze, so consider replacing that with a winter weather product. Check your tire pressure, make sure they're full. Have a full tank of gas as well. If you have to travel in winter conditions, create a winter kit that has blankets, snacks, bottled water, necessary medications, a portable phone charger and other essentials you would need in the event you are stranded or stuck in traffic for a long time.

3) Stock up on food. If the power goes out or you're trapped at home for a couple days, make sure to have enough food to get by. The Weather Channel recommends having a three-day supply of food if you have to hunker down that long. Buy some products that you can eat without using power like peanut butter and jelly, bread, crackers and fruits and vegetables. In my winter storm experience, chips and salsa were winners.

4) Make sure you have water. Grab your reusable water bottles and fill them up now, so you won't be left in a bind later. Bottled water is one of the first items to run out at stores, so having reusable bottles on hand can help if you can't get new bottles in advance of the storm. Think about how much water your pets and anyone else in the household will need and have extra.

5) Have prescriptions filled. Go ahead and make sure you have any medications you and the household needs all ready in the event you can't make it to the pharmacy or the pharmacy has to close.

6) Protect your pipes. This is one that sometimes people forget, but if temperatures fall below freezing long enough, pipes can freeze and burst and no one needs those repair bills. Cover your faucets outside and let water drip inside to prevent the headache.

7) Stay connected. If the power goes out, how will you get information? If you can, get a portable cell phone charger or make sure your car has a car charger so you can make sure your phone has access to power. A weather radio is a great investment too. It's a good time to make sure you have batteries and flashlights as well.

8) Check smoke detectors. Also, check your carbon monoxide detector. With the use of space heaters and other ways of keeping warm, the risk for fire is much larger during winter weather. Encourage your neighbors to check their smoke detectors too. There's always a fire that could have been prevented if a smoke detector had worked.

If you have more advice, feel free to share it in the comments!