Tips for things to do ‘BEFORE’ impending storm

CHELMSFORD, Mass. — Chris Nichols is home from active duty military visiting his grandma and was on active duty making sure she’s ready for this weekend.

“I just left my grandma’s house and preparing for the storm I grabbed her a couple of bags of salt,” said Nichols.

While everyone stocks up on salt and shovels, sometimes it’s the things you don’t think about that you’ll need the most.

“Shovels, batteries, flashlights, gas cans, normally pins for snow blowers are big,” said Ben Quirk of Ace Hardware. “If they break mid storm you get stuck in your driveway. You can’t get snow out. Belts. All types of parts like that. If the wind hits chainsaws are certainly important.”

Experts say the number one thing you can do before the impending storm this weekend is plan. You may think of the obvious things like shovels and scrapers, water, food, but what are the things you may not have thought about that may sell out before the storm gets here. Industry leaders warn if you’re not prepared for everything, the one thing you need may have you stuck.

“Roof rakes typically go fast and people don’t tend to think about that until after the storm.”

“Get what you need to power the batteries, if you have extension cords that are weather-related, if you have a generator, get the fuel you need, get it in advance,” said Kris Kiser, CEO of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.

Experts also recommend you weatherproof your home including inspecting your roof and chimney and any tree limbs.

“If you’re going to blow snow or use a snow thrower look at where you want to do it now,” said Kiser. “So if you’ve got to drive, walk, etc... Pick up stuff, I have dogs. My machine finds dog toys. So you don’t want that to

happen. If you see limbs that could come down take them down. You

don’t want them to be under the snow the snow will hide a lot of things.

Also, if you don’t have to travel in the storm, just don’t.

“I was supposed to fly out Saturday morning, but I may bump that up to Friday to get out of here,” said Nichols.

The experts recommend a couple of other tips like creating an emergency car kit, bringing your pets indoors, and listening to your local weather forecasts.

If you have a generator, here are more tips from Outdoor Power Equipment Institute:

#1 - Take stock of your generator. Make sure equipment is in good working order before starting and using it. Do this before a storm hits.

#2 – Review the directions. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Review the owner’s manuals (look manuals up online if you cannot find them) so equipment is operated safely.

#3 - Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home. This alarm will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building.

#4 - Have the right fuel on hand. Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer to protect this important investment. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment. (For more information on proper fueling for outdoor power equipment visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com). It’s best to use fresh fuel, but if you are using fuel that has been sitting in a gas can for more than 30 days, add a fuel stabilizer to it. Store gas only in an approved container and away from heat sources.

#5 - Ensure portable generators have plenty of ventilation. Generators should NEVER be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a home, a building, or a garage, even if the windows or doors are open. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to drift indoors.

#6 - Keep the generator dry. Do not use a generator in wet conditions. Cover and vent a generator. Model-specific tents or generator covers can be found online for purchase and at home centers and hardware stores.

#7 - Only add fuel to a cool generator. Before refueling, turn the generator off and let it cool down.

#8 -Plugin safely. If you don’t yet have a transfer switch, you can use the outlets on the generator. It’s best to plug in appliances directly to the generator. If you must use an extension cord, it should be heavy-duty and designed for outdoor use. It should be rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Make sure the cord is free of cuts, and the plug has all three prongs.

#9 - Install a transfer switch. A transfer switch connects the generator to the circuit panel and lets you power hardwired appliances. Most transfer switches also help avoid overload by displaying wattage usage levels.

#10 - Do not use the generator to “back feed” power into your home electrical system. Trying to power your home’s electrical wiring by “back feeding” – where you plug the generator into a wall outlet – is dangerous. You could hurt utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer. back feeding bypasses built-in circuit protection devices, so you could damage your electronics or start an electrical fire.

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