Winter storm checklist for the house, the car and you

A winter storm can cut the power and close the roads at the same time. Have what you need in the house and the car before it starts. Plan to stay home for several days without power. Weather-related vehicle crashes kill more than 5,000 people and injure more than 418,000 in an average year.

The house

• Pack flashlights and extra batteriesKeep them where you can find them in the dark.
• Add a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio
• Stock food that needs no cooking or refrigeration, and water
• Fill prescriptions before the stormAdd baby diapers and formula, a first aid kit and extra pet food to the same shelf.
• Refill the heating oil or propaneFuel trucks may not reach you for days after a winter storm.
• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsBoth need battery backups.

Heat and power, safely

• Ventilate any fireplace, wood stove or space heaterA heat source without proper ventilation can start a fire.
• Keep the generator outsideRun it at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages, and never in the house or the garage.
• Clear the heating system's outside ventKeep leaves and debris off it, and clear the snow from it during and after the storm.
• Leave the oven and stovetop off for heatA gas stovetop or oven used for heat raises the risk of carbon monoxide, fire and burns.

The car

• Keep the gas tank near fullA full tank keeps ice out of the tank and the fuel lines.
• Pack blankets or sleeping bags and extra clothing
• Pack a phone charger, a flashlight and a first aid kit
• Add a shovel, a windshield scraper and a sack of sand or cat litterSpread the sand or litter under a tire that spins on ice.
• Add jumper cables, a tow rope, bottled water and snacks that won't spoil

During the storm

Stay off the roads if you can. If you're trapped in the car, stay inside it. Limit your time outdoors, and wear layers of warm clothing when you go out. Don't overexert yourself shoveling or walking in snow, which raises the risk of a heart attack.

Numbness and white, grayish-yellow, firm or waxy skin are signs of frostbite. Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness are signs of hypothermia.