SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – It may be warm out right now, but experts are warning people to prepare now for winter weather during Winter Weather Preparedness Week.

There are important ways to prepare your home and your car for when winter weather hits, and experts recommend you prepare now since the weather can be so touch and go in the Ozarks.

“It can change so quickly. It might be 60 degrees today, but yesterday it was 30, or tomorrow it’s whatever. So we can change so quickly. Just always be prepared,” said Darren White, deputy director of Greene County Emergency Management.

Preparing your home:

Some important things to remember for your home include preparing for warming devices, like space heaters and fireplaces.

With space heaters, you want to keep them away from anything that can catch fire, like clothing or boxes. Keep them a safe distance, and make sure they have safety features, like shutoff, if they tip over.

Also, clean out your wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Any flue or light materials can catch fire and cause bigger problems. You also want to make sure you’re stocked up on food.

“You might have some canned goods, maybe even some MREs, meals ready to eat, that you can fix up if you don’t have any power,” said White.

Generators are also a great way to prepare.

“Maybe a portable generator that can operate that can run some of your house if not all of it. Again, with that, be sure you have a professional install that because that can cause issues to if it’s not done properly,” said White.

A weather radio that has batteries or a crank is important too; that way you can keep up with what’s happening, even if your power is out.

Also, keep your medications up to date and make sure you have plenty in case you can’t get to a pharmacy to refill your medicine.

Preparing your car:

There are plenty of things you should keep in your car as well as winter approaches.

First of all, you always want to make sure you have something to keep you warm if you get stuck somewhere. That includes coats, blankets, gloves, and more.

You also want something to help you if your car gets stuck in the snow or ice.

“Maybe a small bag of ice melt,” said White. “Kitty litter can be good; it can be kind of a substitute for the ice melt.”

You also want to keep road flares or flashlights, some kind of light in your car.

A way to charge your phone is important, too, including a charger and maybe a portable battery or way to plug it into your vehicle.

Finally, keeping water bottles and some non-perishable snacks in your car is really crucial.

“Bottle of water, not a glass bottle, if it freezes, that could break. So a plastic bottle,” said White.

White emphasizes that you shouldn’t leave your car if you get stuck. Instead, stay and wait for help.

“So if you get stranded somewhere because of a snowstorm or ice storm, whatever it is, and you’re a ways away from everything, do not get out of your vehicle and start walking. That’s when, of course, bad things can happen,” said White.

It’s crucial to prepare now, that way, you’re ready for whatever comes your way this winter.

“We’re all busy. We may not plan that far ahead, as far as I’m going to be out and about when this storm is expected to come in. Maybe you have to run somewhere real quick. That way, you’re just always ready. Always prepare ahead of time. We like to say, prepare on the blue sky days for when the gray sky days happen,” said White.

For more tips on how to prepare for winter weather, you can visit Greene County Emergency Management’s site here.

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