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Snow Storm Preparedness Checklist
The home, car and food items to sort before a snow or ice storm, in the order one local newsroom gives them.
A real, editable checklist below — tick, tap a line to rewrite, drag to reorder.
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WSB-TV in Atlanta published its winter checklist during a January 2026 ice storm warning, and it goes in this order: the home, then the car, then food, then a car survival kit. Its chief meteorologist advised being ready to hunker down for a couple of days and staying off the roads entirely. This list follows that order, then adds the before-the-storm tasks from Do Say Give. It assumes you are staying home. It is not a substitute for local emergency guidance, so check your own emergency agency for rules and alerts.
Why these items are on the list
- Stock select foods. WSB-TV starts its home list with food; see the pantry items further down.
- Disposable plates, bowls, utensils. Listed by WSB-TV for the home checklist.
- Medications, infant formula. WSB-TV calls these specialty items; Do Say Give also lists medications and formula.
- Portable AM/FM weather radio. WSB-TV lists a portable AM/FM weather radio along with batteries for it.
- Hats, gloves, coats, boots. Warm clothing appears in both the home list and the car kit at WSB-TV.
- Flashlights, extra batteries. Named by both WSB-TV and Do Say Give.
- First aid kit. On both of WSB-TV's lists, home and car, and on Do Say Give's.
- Extra blankets. Listed by WSB-TV for the home; Do Say Give adds emergency blankets and a sleeping bag.
- Charge cellphone fully. WSB-TV lists it; Do Say Give suggests a phone battery brick.
- Firewood and matches. WSB-TV: firewood for wood fireplaces, matches for candles and gas fireplaces.
- Check car fluid levels. WSB-TV names oil, coolant and washer fluid.
- Test the car battery. WSB-TV says to replace it if necessary.
- Use deicing washer fluid. Part of WSB-TV's car winterization list.
- Inspect tire tread. WSB-TV says to replace tires near the wear limit.
- Test headlights, tail lights. Part of WSB-TV's car winterization list.
- Bottled water. On WSB-TV's food list and Do Say Give's supplies list.
- Canned fruit and vegetables. WSB-TV also lists soups, crackers, nuts, cereal and meals ready to eat.
- Freeze bread to keep longer. WSB-TV says to keep bread frozen so that it lasts longer.
- Pack car winter survival kit. WSB-TV includes ice scraper, shovel, booster cables, flares and sand or kitty litter for traction.
- Fill car with gas. First task on Do Say Give's before-the-storm list.
- Drip sink, shower, tub faucets. Do Say Give says to do this in freezing weather.
- Change smoke, CO detector batteries. Do Say Give lists carbon monoxide and fire detectors.
- Weather strip doors, cover windows. Do Say Give says to do this as needed for your doors and windows.
- Plan for burst pipes. Do Say Give: know how to turn off water, who to call, keep towels nearby.
- Find water meter key. Do Say Give says some houses need one for emergency shutoff; check which kind.
- Set aside pet food, cash. Both are on Do Say Give's supplies list.
- Ask about medical priority lists. Do Say Give notes Texas has one and not a guarantee; elsewhere, check your state government's site.
On your phone, the home, car and food tasks can be split between people and checked off as each one is finished. What is left stays in view as you go.
When to use it
Use it as soon as a snow or ice storm is forecast, and again at the start of winter to check your supplies.