For Menlo Park residents, preparing for winter weather primarily means being ready for rain-related power outages and possible flooding.
While it’s been a fairly dry winter season thus far, it’s a good idea to take a few minutes to assess your readiness for storm-related problems.
The Ready.gov website lists several ways to prepare your home and family for winter storms. Here’s a partial list:
- Prepare for power outages.
- Use generators outside only and away from windows.
- Listen for emergency information and alerts. (If you don’t already receive the alerts from San Mateo County, you can sign up at SMC Alert.)
- Check on neighbors while following the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on maintaining social and physical distancing. Consider connecting with family and friends by telephone, e-mail, text messages, video chat, and social media. If you must visit in person, wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet from them.
- Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
- Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Remember the needs of your pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
- If flash flooding is a risk in your location, monitor potential signs, such as heavy rain.
- Learn and practice evacuation routes, shelter plans and flash flood response.
- If you live in a flooding zone, make plans to stay with family and friends. Evacuate to shelters only if you are unable to stay with family and friends. Check with local authorities to determine which public shelters are open. Review your evacuation plan and consider alternative options to maintain social and physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Don’t forget to include your pet in your emergency plan.