Every few years, Southern Ontario gets a really bad storm. To help you prepare in the event that this winter gives us an ice storm, here are our top tips on how to prepare for an ice storm.


 

HOME

Preparing for an ice storm means covering all your fronts. At home, it's critical that you either create or replenish your emergency kit. You can purchase ready made emergency kits online at your favourite online retailer, but you can also create them yourself. Basic items that belong in an emergency kit are as follows:


 

• Face masks 

• Hand sanitizer 

• 1 gallon of water per person for 3 - 7 days Non-perishable food supply to last 3 - 7 days
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio Cell phone with charger 

• First aid kit 

• Flashlight with extra batteries 

• Manual can opener for food 

• Wrench or pliers to turn off water 

• Blanket or sleeping bag - 1 per person 

• Prescription medications and glasses 

• Seasonal change of clothing 

• Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, feminine supplies 

• Extra house and car keys 

• Important documents 

• Fire extinguisher 

• Cash and change 

• Books and cards


 

For an ice storm, it would be helpful to also add these items to your emergency kit: 

• Rock salt to melt ice on walkways 

• Sand to make traction better 

• Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment 

• Heating fuel such as dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace



 

TRAVEL


 

Unless absolutely necessary, please avoid leaving the house. This is one of the most dangerous times to drive, and even walking can lead to falling or injury due to black ice. If you must travel, please:


• Drive slowly 

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids 

• Increase your following distance to five or six seconds 

• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the hell of your foot on
the floor and use the ball of your foot to brake 

• Don't stop if you can avoid it. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it 

• Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Get a little inertia going before you reach the hill





In addition to the emergency kit you've built for your home, it would also be a great idea to stock one for your vehicle. Your car emergency kit doesn't have to be as fully loaded as your home emergency kit - for this, a blanket, warm gear, jumper cables, first aid kit, water, phone charges and anything else you deem essential would be great.



Snow storms and ice storms come unexpectedly, but as long as you have emergency kits you will be prepared for this weather! Enjoy the snow from indoors and you should be fine. Today's snow storm will unlikely leave you without power, but it should hopefully jump start your brain as to what else you would like to include in your kit when you and your family are trapped on snow days. Stay safe! 




 

Thanks for reading today’s BLOG!!!

Brian Kondo
Sales Representative / Team Leader
The Brian Kondo Real Estate Team
Re/Max Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd.
905-683-7800 office
905-426-7484 direct
brian@briankondo.com
www.BrianKondo.com
www.BrianKondoTeam.com

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