Tips to prepare for upcoming cold weather

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s what everyone is talking about around the Cape Fear Region, some seriously cold weather heading our way this weekend.

It’s not just slick roads that can cause problems, but they’re problems that can be avoided if you take the right steps to prepare.

When the weather gets below freezing, the possibility of dangerous road conditions, power outages and even problems to your home become apparent.

These issues have workers at Duke Energy saying you need to be ready for anything.

“It’s always good to plan for the unexpected,” Duke Energy spokeswoman Meghan Miles said. “It’s always a good idea that customers have emergency kits ready with non-perishable foods, water, battery operated radio or TV’s and anything that they may need if they experience an outage.”

While power companies want you to be ready, they don’t expect widespread outages in the area.

But having an emergency kit on hand is only part of the preparedness.

You also have to ensure your home is safe by preparing your plumbing.

“The number one thing that people need to look out for is that all their exposed piping is insulated.” Tony Goodwin of Michael and Son Plumbing said

Goodwin adds that if you don’t take the proper steps to protect your piping, you run the risk of having your pipes freeze which can lead to major issues in your home.

However, he does say that there are simple things you can do to prevent that.

“If you haven’t been through any cold weather yet, the best thing you can do is let your water run,” Goodwin said. “Let it drip at your bathroom sinks as well as your kitchen sinks and the tubs and showers. Just turn it on a little bit and that will save your pipes from freezing.”

Another important step to preparing for the cold is to prepare your pets.

The North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association (NCVMA) is an organization dedicated to raising awareness for proper pet care. They offered the following tips before the storm this weekend:

• Stock up on your pet’s food incase you can’t get out to the store
• If you let your pet play in the ice/snow, check their paws once back inside for scrapes or other irritations
• Be aware that salt can irritate pets paws and skin
• Avoid icy patches or slick areas to prevent injuries
• Don’t leave pets outside for extended period of times

Duke Energy also added that you can report outages by calling 1-800-POWERON, texting “OUT” to 57801, or by logging onto their website at https://www.duke-energy.com/home.

As is the case with any serious weather, it’s always better to be over prepared and ready for anything to come.

Stay warm everyone!