Due to its warm winters, Floridians may not prepare for winter weather. Certain parts of north Florida have snow and ice storms in winter. Storms are hazardous and sometimes devastating. Floridians have died from being unprepared for cold, snow, and ice. Florida houses lack heating and insulation for sub-freezing temperatures. Winter weather may be harmful to house inhabitants if heating systems lose electricity. Electrical failures and frozen water lines are also possible. Local road ice or debris may make travel unsafe. These safety tips help your family prepare for Florida’s winter weather.

What to do when winter weather is on the way?

• Make sure everyone in the family has a warm coat, gloves, and a cap.
• Prepare for a potential outage by stocking up on batteries and flashlights.
• Put your phone on charge.
• Be sure you have a backup plan if you or someone you know relies on oxygen or electronics during a storm.
• Get a week’s worth of your necessary medicines in stock.
• Prepare for a week without electricity by stocking up on nonperishables, bottled water, and a manual can opener.
• Save a cushion of funds. When the power goes off, POS terminals and ATMs will be inoperable.
• Refuel your vehicle.
• The water in the bathtub(s) should be filled.
• Set both the fridge and the freezer to their coldest temperatures.
• Use rubber insulation to cover any pipes that are exposed outside.
• Put cinders or rock salt down on your driveway and sidewalks.
• Don’t let your windscreen wipers freeze on the glass by lifting them.
• Put a sheet or blanket over the front and back windows to keep the ice off. The cover may then be secured by repositioning the wipes over it.

Guidelines to follow during the  winter weather

• To prevent pipes from freezing, leave a small amount of water running from each tap.
• Don’t risk electricity by leaving electronics plugged in when the power goes off.
• When electricity is restored, the initial load on the electricity system is reduced. If you want to know when the electricity comes back on, leave a light on.
• Generators must be used safely.
• Keep it out of the house and the garage.
• Only use one outside, away from any windows, and in a well-ventilated area at least 20 feet in diameter.
• To prevent “back feed” into utility lines, which may harm or kill utility workers, you should not connect the generator to your home’s wiring.
• Connect your electronics straight to the generator’s outlets.
• Four, only use a fireplace with adequate ventilation if you must have an open fire inside.
• Fifth, you should never have a charcoal fire indoors.
• Avoid opening the fridge and freezer too much if you want to keep the inside cool. Think ahead about what needs to go out the door with you.
• To prevent food from spoiling as quickly, fill plastic containers with cold water and store them inside the fridge or freezer. This will also assist in expanding your emergency water supply.
• When in doubt, go to a designated safe area (e.g., public school). You need to contact your county’s Disaster Management Office to find out where they are.

Reasons to take precautions before a winter weather storm in Florida

Even if you prepare for a winter storm, untreated roads may make driving dangerous. Storms may strand you. Beaching is scary but not deadly. Survival requires fuel conservation and warmth. It’s hard to imagine leaving your car. Preventing frostbite and hypothermia requires weatherproofing. If winter weather is even a slight possibility, NOAA’s National Weather Service advises packing a winter survival kit to protect yourself and your family.

As crucial as it is to know the temperature, it is as necessary to see the wind speed and direction. To do so, you may use Weather API, a special kind of Application Programming Interface (API) that gives you access to a wealth of weather information, including predictions, satellite images, radar readings, and more.  

Conclusion

Take action if you expect winter weather. If the storm lasts longer than anticipated, worried people stock up on groceries for themselves and others, depleting shop stockpiles. Gas stations and gasoline pumps are similar. Preparing for stranding and staying inside during a storm may save your life. Winter weather may be beautiful and fun, but it might surprise you if you’re not prepared. Prepare ahead!