Preparing for the Winter Season ❄️🌨️

msmith627
Nov 24
3 min read

Updated: Nov 25

Winter Preparedness Guide

With winter on the way, it’s a good time to start getting ready for whatever weather the season may bring. The storms in December of 2024 reminded us how damaging winter weather can be, and climate change is making Maine winters wetter. That can mean more freezing rain, downed trees, high winds, and power outages. Now’s the time to make sure you and your family (and neighbors!) are prepared for the coming season and have what you need to be safe and comfortable at home.

Stay Informed

Preparedness

Let's get you, your family, and your house prepared for this upcoming winter and future winters!

It is important to prepare your home for winter with proper weatherization techniques, with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. See these guides for weatherstripping and applying caulk to reduce air leaks. Did you know about 30% of a home's heating energy can be lost through windows? Explore window treatments that can help prevent heat loss (and save money!). For more weatherization solutions and incentives see Yarmouth Climate Action’s blog post.

SAFETY TIP: Make sure your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have battery back-up and work if the power goes out.

If you live in an area that can become cut off when there is heavy rain and flooding, ensure you have all the materials you may need until the water recedes. Remember it is not advised to drive through flooded roads!

Emergency Kit Supplies

Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. This would include:

Non-perishable food
Water
Fuel
Medicine, along with specific needs your family may need
Warm clothes and blankets
Flashlight and batteries
Radio – battery powered or hand-cranked

Don’t forget to prepare for your pets! Prepare a pet emergency kit for your animals companions.

Ever been stuck with a dead battery or flat tire? What if this happened during a winter storm? Having the correct items in your car ensures your safety during the winter.

Tips

Charge devices ahead of storms
Use flashlights -not candles- when there's a power outage
Avoid opening your refrigerator until necessary
Report the power outage on CMP’s website
Prevent frozen pipes with drip faucets
If you have medical devices and/or refrigerated medicine, discuss a plan with your primary care or medical device providers for your medical needs.
Communicate and check in with family, friends, and neighbors, some people may be more vulnerable than others.
Cover windows with heavy curtains at sunset to retain heat and prevent cold from entering; remove at sunrise to take advantage of the sunlight.
Work outside? See the Cold Stress Guide for more tips on how to stay warm.

Safety

During cold weather events and power outages, we may look to other ways to stay warm, power our homes, and cook our food. Generators, alternative heaters (such as electric space heaters) and portable cooking stoves can come with risks to be aware of, like carbon monoxide poisoning.

To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

Never heat your home with a gas stove top or oven
Do not use a portable stove indoors for cooking or staying warm
Generators should always be outdoors in a well-ventilated area and at least 15 feet away from windows, doors, and attached garages.

Other important safety measures to consider:

If you do go outside, make sure you dress appropriately to avoid hypothermia and frostbite.
Avoid traveling during winter storms with heavy snow and ice, only leave when necessary.
Do not drive or walk on flooded roads or streams that are crossing the road. The road underneath may be washed out.
Never leave your alternative heater (electric space heater) or portable cooker unattended.

Resources

Warming Centers List: Shows all current warming centers open throughout the State with addresses and times. You, your family, and friends can go to a warming center to stay warm and recharge your devices.

Merrill Memorial Library and the Yarmouth Town Hall may act as a Warming Centers during operating hours. More information and details to come!

More information on generator safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, and alternative heating source safety are important resources to read through to ensure you are using these sources safely and are aware of their risks.

Below are printable flyers that include information on weather events emergencies, how to prepare, what to do during that event, and what to do after. This could be a good resource to print out and leave at your home or a family member’s home who may need reminders.

Information from this blog is from Maine Emergency Management Agency, Ready.gov, and American Red Cross.