Ask Angi: How do I make my house snowstorm ready?

The bright lights and sounds of the holidays are past, and the bitter cold and snow of winter is soon upon us in many parts of the nation. Snowstorms are more frequent in the north than the south (and indeed, snow is virtually nonexistent in Florida), but many of the same principles of emergency safety apply in case of earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters. Snowstorms pose a particular danger to children, older adults and pets, but fortunately, you’re likely to have 12 to 24 hours of warning.

Follow these tips to protect yourself, your family, and your home when extreme weather strikes.

Take Warnings Seriously

Pay attention to warnings from the National Weather Service or your state or local government. Time is the single most precious resource in any weather situation, and in most cases, you will have several hours or days of warning of incoming poor weather, especially snow. Listen to the advice given and prepare as directed; the best-case scenario is that afterward, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief that you didn’t need to prepare as much as you did. But in the worst-case scenarios, preparation makes a major difference in outcomes.

Stay on Top of Regular Maintenance

If you haven’t done these tasks already, it’s a good idea to complete them before they become urgent:

• Winterize your roof by checking for damage and cleaning gutters.
• Double-check your caulking, insulation and weather stripping. It’s always a good idea to keep those in good repair for energy efficiency, but if the heat goes out during a snowstorm, you want to preserve every degree of internal heat you can.
• Drain your sprinkler system in accordance with instructions.
• Prepare plumbing and pipes by sealing off exterior cracks, insulating pipes that can easily freeze, and leaving the heat on...