So, there's some seriously cold weather on the way in my region. Looks like some parts of the US are already dealing with it, but it hasn't hit here yet. Forecast is for possible single-digit temps and windchill below zero!
I know some of y'all might just call that a normal winter day but round here it's more like a once-every-ten-years event.
So, I've started jotting down a few notes for a to-do list before Friday. Stock up on food and water first, obviously, then, in no particular order:
1. Charge/condition the old spare car battery that I keep in the closet as a just-in-case.
2. Pick up some sand bags to put in the trunk of the car (for weight over the rear tires mainly, and also to spread on slick spots)
3. Install new windshield wiper blades on the car. The current ones are old and mostly just skip and squawk over the glass.
4. Top off the water level in the car battery if needed. Crazy as it seems for a 2007 car, it has an old-school, non-sealed battery with vent caps.
5. Smear some silicone lube or something on the car door weather strip seals, so the door doesn't freeze shut so solidly if we get snow / freezing rain.
6. Verify that my car 12-volt to A.C. adapter still works. That thing has sat in the glovebox for years without being used.
7. Take care of a couple things for my dad: buy him one of those thermal reflective tarps/blankets that's aluminized on one side (they work really well!). Check the tree branches and stuff round his place to make sure nothing's going to fall off and be in the way, and remove it now if so. Get him some sand and/or de-icer for the walkways, porch, etc.
Not going to even mention lighting prep, because probably anyone registered on this forum already has enough emergency lighting to outlast everything else!
But chime in if there are any other good cold-weather preparations. (I live in an apartment unfortunately so I'm kinda limited on some things)