MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Portions of the Memphis and Mid-South area could see significant ice accumulations that take down power lines and make travel difficult.
Here are three important things people need to have ready before Thursday: their home, their car, and of course, themselves.
Make sure your home is safe
- First, you should have a winter storm survival kit. This kit needs to have a phone with a portable charger, blankets, flashlights with extra batteries, a first aid kit, and high-calorie non-perishable foods.
- Next, you want to weatherproof your home. Start by keeping cold air out of the house. AAA recommends finding cracks and crevices that allow cold air to get into the home. You can fix the problem areas by weather stripping around windows, doors, vents, fans, plumbing, and electrical lines.
- If you think your pipes might freeze, let cold water drip from one faucet to relieve the pressure that could build in the pipes.
Make sure your car is prepared for anything
- Get your car ready. Start with filling up your car's tank with gas Wednesday night. If you have to get out in the storm, you never know how long you'll be in traffic or stuck on the side of the road.
- You should also have an emergency kit in your car. It's similar to the one you would keep in your home, and if you're unable to park your car into the garage or carport, make sure you lift up your windshield wipers so they don't freeze. Then, put a piece of cardboard or a blanket over the windshield to help keep it from icing over.
Make sure you and your loved ones are personally prepared
- If you live with elderly people, place an easy-to-read thermometer inside. Experts said our ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age. If you rely on life support systems, you shouldn't be alone, and there needs to be an emergency plan in place.
- That plan should include contacting MLGW so they can make sure you are on their registry list. Contact your oxygen provider and ask to set up one or more large compressed oxygen cylinders, so oxygen flow is uninterrupted even during an outage and also ask for backup batteries.