This next week we will be flirting with snow and winter weather most of the week. Just over a year ago Lake Oswego had a massive winter storm that felled trees, knocked out power, and generally wreaked havoc. Those sorts of storms are rare. This winter has, in fact, been very mild. But you just don’t know. The time to prepare is before the storm hits.
Last winter my household was without power for 6 days. We do have equipment to cook and heat, all indoor rated, that require propane. We had to go to Hillsboro, a part of the metro area that wasn’t hit hard by the storm, to find propane. Around LO, it was all sold out. I never want to be caught in that situation again.
PGE puts out a really simple list of things that you can do to prepare for a storm:
- Make sure that you have medication. If it needs refrigeration, have a cooler that you can put ice in.
- If you have a generator, make sure that you have fuel and extension cords.
- Plan to use flashlights instead of candles and make sure that you have batteries and back-up batteries in sufficient supply.
- Make sure that you have drinking water.
- Charge up your electronics and plan a way to recharge those devices. Get an adaptor for your car. Consider also having a portable charger. We found a battery operated one that could charge our phones and our portable devices.
- Purchase ice or freeze containers of water to put into your freezer and refrigerator. Last year it was so cold that we simply bagged up the contents of our refrigerator and freezer and put it out into the garage.
- Keep handy a list of important phone numbers such as for the doctor, hospital, and veterinarian.
- Make sure that your car is accessible.
So far, the forecast next week is just a flirtation with winter. No major storm is forecast, thank goodness. We will have the chance of winter storms for about 6 more weeks, so plan ahead. Stay safe and stay warm.
Dianne