From My Home to Yours
1/23/26
~ Prepping for a snow/ice storm weather event ~
I'm a day early this week, but I thought it might help someone in their preparation for the winter storm that is affecting so many to see what we do to prepare for a major weather event ...
If you listen to the weather reports, we are in for a doozy of a weather event! The coverage reminds me of Hurricane Florence a few years back ... Hurricane Florence devastated our area completely! Enough said! So, with that memory in mind and memory of another ice storm that hit several years ago that again devastated our area completely, we are in full prep mode!
As a general rule, prepping for an ice storm (we rarely have snow) is very similar to prepping for a hurricane. We prepare for the strong possibility of losing power, sometimes long term.
That's where our focus is right now and here are some of the ways we're preparing ...
pictured on the left: peppers after having been cooked
cooking up food ahead (as in now) that can be heated and eaten ... The peppers above are one example. From freezer, to oven and once completely cooled, to the refrigerator where we can heat and eat. I also have a whole chicken that I cooked earlier today. Once it is cool enough to handle, I will debone it, let it cool completely and refrigerate it. I'll use it to make wraps and other quick grab foods that only require heating. I plan to pull an apple pie out of the freezer and cook it up as well.
In addition, we're ...
charging electronic devices and batteries to their maximum ...
securing a heat source ...
securing a way to cook ...
checking our alternative lighting ...
making a run to the grocery store for fresh foods and perishables ...
securing kitty litter or something similar for slick spots on walkways and or steps ...
making sure all laundry is done and put away ...
making sure all bills are paid that would come due for at least a week after weather event ...
making sure animals are taken care of ...
making sure all outside sources of water are taken care of so they don't freeze ...
making sure all the basic cleaning is done ...
making sure vehicle is full of gasoline ...
Yes, we have been and are busy ... we are doing all we can to prepare as we wait ... we may get nothing, we may get some or we may get the whole shabang! Time will tell, the important thing is that we have done what we could and now we will rely upon our Lord to do the rest.
There really wasn't time to do much in and around all this storm prepping, but I did manage to get a little creating done ...
pictured: sewing labels that I finally got the courage to try my hand at
This was a productive week at my sewing machine, I didn't really have time, but I so wanted to get some things done and participate in others so I found myself working in blocks of time here and there. By staying consistent at working on my projects, I had a pretty good week! Besides creating the labels, you can see what else I did HERE.
Praying that all in the path of winter storm Fern, stays safe and warm.
That's it for this week, I hope you've found something in my ramblings that will help and or encourage you in the upcoming week.
Winter Storm Update: 1/25/26 ... we got the cold temperatures and predicted ice, but no snow We are safe and warm in our cozy little home and are enjoying the preps we put into place. Thank you for your prayers and concern. We have not lost power at this time nor do we think we will. Praying for all who've lost power ... it's a good time for neighbor to check on neighbor!
Until the next time ...
mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry
~ quietly holding the home front ~
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
Other Places You Can Find Me ...
Mrs. Patsi on Instagram
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Dear Patsy, I love your blog and your encouragement to others. I’m sorry I’ve not posted a comment before but I have been following along learning and taking in all that you teach. But, now it’s about time I say, simply thank you! I hope you are keeping safe and well. I do love your new sewing labels and hope you continue to share your preparedness journey and life experiences. Stephanie xox
ReplyDeleteStephanie, you are just so encouraging to me, thank you!
DeleteStay safe and warm. Scary for many of us.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, stay safe and warm yourself!
DeleteI hope that the storm passes you by and that your preparations aren't needed, but you are wise to be ready for whatever it may bring.
ReplyDeleteTracey, that's the way we feel as well. It's better to be prepared and not it, then need it and not be prepared.
DeleteHi newbie here, i love that list of prep to do before a storm, i am going to copy it down if you don't mind. In the Uk we don't get huge storms like you do but i think it will definitely be a good idea to start a prep list. By the way my daughter is called Fern,, i really hope the storm is like her and is just a gentle little thing. Off to go and read through your blog now.
ReplyDeleteLove Ftm
Ftm, Welcome and thank you! I hope winter storm Fern is as gentile as your Fern too!
DeleteGreat preparedness tips!
ReplyDeleteStay warm! Es
Es, thank you and we are going to try to stay warm and safe!
DeleteThings look pretty grim here. On Nextdoor I am seeing so many who have no way to heat their homes or the needed funds to even have some food on hand. Then they are saying another system next weekend. We have done all we can but a two to three week outage is not something we have the supplies to get through ourselves. When the power does come back on will our pipes be broken? Quite likely. I am trying to trust God to care for us but I feel terror in my gut.
ReplyDeleteLana, It's certainly an occasion worthy of diligent prayers. I know several who have no way to heat their homes that are also in the areas where it is forecast to be the worst, some are family members. We have wracked our brains for ways to find needed preps, but there is just nothing available in their areas. The broken water pipes are a concern for them as well ... and while we are prepared, we're too far away to be of any help to them.
DeletePsalm 56:3 ... 'When I am afraid, I will trust in You.'
You are among those whom we are calling by name in our prayers for safety and protection through this storm.
And you just never know what to prepare for! Last week I said we had no chance of snow much, and Sunday morning changed everything with...SNOW! It didn't last long and we only got about 1.5 inches but it was NOT in our forecast on Saturday. I have heating and cooking covered, and only need to draw up a bathtub of water to use for washing dishes and flushing toilets.
ReplyDeleteTerri, I agree, the weather has just gotten so unpredictable! So glad you are prepared!
DeletePatsy, I love that you took a few minutes this week for FUN projects (all work and no play and all that). We, too, are preparing for the ice storm. In addition to covering the basics, I have been thinking about how to keep busy and productive even without power (though basic tasks tend to take longer to do when we’re without our conveniences). Staying busy and productive will help keep spirits high rather than focusing on how miserable we could be. I love to read, so I have lots of paper books (even though I am a fan of digital books because they don’t become clutter), I can crochet until I use up my yarn, and I can always CUT OUT fabric for the next project or two. 😁 Basic household tasks like dusting and sweeping can also be done without power (and the movement will help us stay warm). Let’s not forget a few games, like cards, Scrabble, and Monopoly. I plan to make the best of the situation. Prayers for all the emergency crews who will work tirelessly to restore power and services after the storm. May we all stay safe and well!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, you are spot on in everything you said! I have plenty to keep these hands busy!
DeleteI’ll be keeping you in prayer, Patsy. I am so glad you are so well prepared.
ReplyDeleteHere in Texas we’re expecting a few days of ice and very cold temps. Our only worry is frozen pipes because our homes here just aren’t really built for that kind of cold.
We have faucets dripping and the bathroom cabinets open. As long as our electricity stays on we should be okay.
Anonymous, praying that your power stays on, we're expecting ice and very cold temps too!
DeleteHi Patsi,
ReplyDeleteyour preparations are excellent! I hope you weather the ice storm safely.
It's been very cold here for several weeks, and some regions of Germany have had snow for a long time. The lakes and some rivers are completely frozen over.
I've also prepared for severe weather, power outages, and illness.
Stay healthy and warm!
Sibylle
Sibylle, we rarely get snow and temps this cold are unusual for our area, but ice storms do happen here! Preparedness just makes sense, doesn't it!
DeleteIn a suburb of Dallas, TX, we were fearful of ice taking down electric wires. Praise God He prevented that. But, a few couples near us were last minute shopping for wood for their fireplaces.
ReplyDeleteWe still have a full rack and could share. The thing is we NEVER pay for firewood. We only pick up limbs set out on curbs and we have suggested they do the same. Just saying this is almost a hobby of ours that others might want to try. We may buy a third rack do we can have a “ wood ministry.” Haha
Hope you are safe & warm, Patsy.
Kim
Kim, that's a really good tip about obtaining free firewood, thank you for sharing.
DeleteI'm glad you're safe and able to stay warm. We have the predicted ice amount but are warm and safe inside. We have not lost power thus far and really don't think we will.