Winter storms rage in the USA. How to protect your car, your home and your family.

It’s not quite winter yet, but snowstorms have already hit the United States. After a chilly Thanksgiving weekend, the Great Lakes region is bracing for winter storms, with more snow, ice and biting winds expected in the coming months. Winter weather – including low temperatures and storms – poses a range of risks, from frostbite and hypothermia to power outages and dangerous driving conditions. “The most important thing is to be prepared,” Catie Ballenger, a national spokesperson for the American Red Cross, tells Yahoo Life. “It’s not a cliché; It’s what you have to do to take care of yourself and your family.”

Here’s how to plan ahead for winter weather, from what to expect this season to expert tips on how to stay safe and warm.

Winter weather can be dangerous – even in the warmer south

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a warmer, drier winter in the southern half of the U.S. and wetter than usual weather in the northern parts of the country. But every year, each region is affected by different winter weather, experts say. The Great Lakes region, which includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, is already experiencing lake effect snow, which occurs when cold air from Canada accumulates moisture over open waters, creating perfect conditions for heavy snowfall . Snowstorms can hit the Mountain West and parts of the Midwest, downpours can bring mudslides to California, and ice storms can devastate the Great Plains and Mid-Atlantic states. On the East Coast, northeast winds dumping heavy, wet snow may bring down power lines and tree limbs.

Although climate change is leading to warmer temperatures year-round, it is also leading to more unpredictable and extreme winter weather — particularly in parts of the country that are not accustomed to heavy snowfall. That’s what happened in Texas in 2021, when historic winter storms killed 246 people and overwhelmed the state’s power grid, resulting in more than two weeks of blackouts and a blackout for millions of people. “People in the north like to make fun of places in the south when they freak out about 2 inches of snow, but down there it’s a big deal,” Nick Bassill, director of the State Weather Risk Communication Center in New York, told Yahoo Life . Even if you don’t live in a northern state, it’s wise to be prepared for whatever winter may bring.

How winter weather can sneak up on you – and what you can do

The biggest health risks posed by freezing temperatures and wind chills are frostbite and hypothermia, and they can happen quickly, Ballenger says. “When people think of frostbite, they think of a change in skin color, but they need to look for numbness and pain in the extremities (such as) the fingers, toes, nose, ears and cheeks,” she says. If you notice signs of frostbite, immediately go to a warm place and run the affected body parts under warm — not hot — water, Mike Muccilli, deputy winter program manager at NOAA, tells Yahoo Life. If you’re still numb after warming up, you should go to the emergency room, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Hypothermia – when the body becomes dangerously cold – can occur even when you’re not cold, such as when you’re sweating and shoveling snow. If you’re feeling sleepy or confused, it’s a good time to go inside and warm up. Be especially careful to take breaks while shoveling heavy, wet snow (such as is common in the Northeast), as this can trigger heart attacks.

Whatever you do outside in the winter, be sure to dress yourself and your children in several light layers. Ballenger suggests wearing a long-sleeved shirt And a sweatshirt or sweater under your coat. “This keeps things more regulated,” she says. Warm boots, a hat, gloves and scarves are also important to cover and insulate the body.

Prepare your home for the worst of winter

During cold weather and winter storms, power outages are common, and cars often crash or break down. A good first step in your preparations, Ballenger says, is to follow your county, local sheriff and local emergency management offices on social media. The Red Cross also has an app, and each of these resources provides information about where warming shelters are located – temporary facilities equipped with heat, beds and often food. These and NOAA weather radio stations also provide information about what weather to expect and advice on precautions to take.

However, if the roads are already icy or snowy at the time of the power outage, it is not safe to drive to a shelter. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 1,300 people die and another 116,800 are injured in car accidents on snowy, icy or slushy roads each year. Therefore, it’s best to stay put and experts recommend keeping supplies at your home. “We recommend putting together a home emergency kit with enough clothing and blankets so you can stay warm in the event of a power outage,” says Muccilli.

Experts recommend the following:

• At least three days worth of medication

• Ready-to-eat, shelf-stable foods for at least three days

• One gallon of drinking water per person for each of the three days

• Flashlights and extra batteries

If your power goes out, there are steps you can take to keep your home warm, experts say. Draw your curtains and consider covering your windows and gaps under doors with towels or blankets. Close the doors to any rooms you don’t necessarily need to enter and get your whole family into one room – ideally in the middle of the house, away from windows – with blankets and warm clothing so you can conserve heat there and then Sharing body heat. Also, keep your refrigerator closed to keep the cold air inside and preserve food for as long as possible.

Do not, Under no circumstances should you light fires outside fireplaces or try to heat the house with heat from the stove, experts warn. This poses a significant risk of house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning, respectively, and the incidence of both increases each winter. If you use a space heater, make sure it is at least 3 feet away from other objects and that it cannot be knocked over.

Get your car ready for winter storms

Above all, experts agree that you should avoid driving in ice and snow if possible. However, if you must hit the road, Muccilli recommends getting winter tires or adding chains to your tires to improve their traction if you live in a snow-prone area. Unfortunately, neither of these things helps much against pure ice on the road.

You should also stock your car with supplies to stay warm and safe if you get stuck. If you’re stranded, “there’s no guarantee that you’ll be the first person first responders get to,” Ballenger says. “Your plan should be to take care of yourself…so that if it takes a while to get a tow truck, you can be sure you’ll be completely fine.”

Consider packing a car kit that includes:

• Flashlights and batteries

• Non-perishable snacks like PowerBars

• A small shovel and kitty litter, sand or rock salt to dig out of the snow if necessary

• Ice scraper to clean your windshield

• A red band or something colorful that you can attach to your antenna to make your car easier to spot if you need to stop in poor visibility conditions