01/28/13
Preparing for Winter Weather in San Antonio

Preparing for winter weather emergencies in San Antonio generally involves knowing how to safely endure a period of time without electricity.

Whether the emergency is caused by freezing rain and ice, or very cold temperatures, storms that knock out power leave homeowners without access to basic requirements.

Its best to be prepared for a power outage before it occurs, giving you and your family time to gather necessary items and decide on an alternative heating method. The Texas Extension Disaster Education Network recommends area homeowners do the following:

Gather necessary supplies

Put the following items in a kit, in a location thats easy to access:

FlashlightsBatteriesCell phone chargers for the carBattery-powered radio to stay up to date on weather and area conditionsFirst-aid supplies, such as band-aids, gauze, etc.MedicationsHygiene items

Prepare food and water

If the power outage is brief, lasting just one day, the food stored in your fridge and freezer should remain safe " if you dont open the doors very often. To keep food safe, in a range above 40 degrees, have a supply of ice and coolers on hand. When the power goes out, transfer food to the coolers and pack them with ice. Stock a supply of nonperishable food, canned goods and so forth, along with a manual can opener.

Be sure you have enough drinking water on hand. Ideally, youll want 1 gallon per person per day, with enough for at least three days, maybe more. Fill buckets and the tub with water for hygiene purposes.

Know what heating source to use

Consider installing a standby generator, which will not only run your heating system, but depending on its supply, may also power other home systems. You can also use a fireplace or space heater as an alternative source of heat. Be sure to keep fuel on hand to power the backup heating source.

Preparing for winter weather emergencies is wise. Start today and get your preparedness plan going. Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning is happy to help. Weve been serving San Antonio and the surrounding communities, including Bulverde, New Braunfels, Seguin, and Boerne since the mid-1970s.