If there’s a winter weather emergency, you could be stuck at home for a few days – possibly without power – left to fend for yourself with only what you have. Since extreme winter weather can come out of nowhere, it’s important that you get prepared now for whatever the Texas winter throws at you.
Below are some of the supplies you may want to keep on hand in case you have to shelter in place during a winter storm.
- Clothes: have warm clothes, outerwear, and blankets so you can stay warm both inside and outside of your home.
- Food & water: have three days’ worth of shelf-stable food and enough water for each person to have one gallon per day.
- Medical: keep enough medications for seven days, make sure you have a fully-stocked first aid kit, and have a backup plan if you use a mobility device that is power dependent.
- Gadgets: have a radio, a flashlight, and a can opener that you can still use if the power goes out. And make sure you have batteries and power banks to operate and charge your gadgets and devices.
- Miscellaneous: have an alternative heat source to help you stay warm, and keep a shovel and salt or sand handy to clear paths outside your home.
And don’t forget your pets! Many of the items above apply to your pets and service animals, too. Take your pets into consideration when planning for things like how to stay warm, how much food and water to have, how much medication to keep on hand, and more.
Learn more and see our full checklist:
- Winter Emergency Supplies Checklist for People with Disabilities
- Lista de verificación de suministros de emergencia de invierno para personas con discapacidades