By Alli Schieber
Features Editor
With the cold weather finally starting to arrive in Oklahoma it is good to know how to best be prepared.
There are many things one can do to prepare for cold weather including layering clothes, stocking up on non-perishable foods, charting phones and portable chargers and dripping water to keep pipes from freezing.
People should also prepare their cars for winter weather. Some ways to prepare your car for winter are updating your car survival kit, checking the battery, checking your tires and brakes, having an empty fuel can and checking your ice scraper and windshield wipers.
Other ways to stay prepared for the weather are having extra winter boots, coats, and blankets in your car in case of emergencies.
You can also make sure your washer fluid is full and keep your gas tank at least half full.
Other equipment to have in case of an emergency is a flashlight, jumper cables and a bag of sand or cat litter and shovel.
Sand and cat litter can help you gain traction if you end up stuck in the snow.
Some ways to keep your house prepared for the cold weather are making sure you have non-perishable food, water, flashlights, candles and batteries in case of a power outage.
Having your chimney or furnace inspected is also something you may want to do to ensure it is safe.
Another way to keep your house prepared for the cold is checking pipes around the bathroom and kitchen, as well as checking the installation in the attic and testing your carbon monoxide alarms.
Some people may not think about preparing the outside of their house for winter but that also needs preparation.
Ways you can prepare the outside of your house is trimming tree limbs that hang over your house or car, cleaning the gutters, winterizing your pool if you have one and finding your water shutoff valve and making sure it works in case of emergency.
The main thing to do is stay safe and warm with this weather, stay inside if possible and dress in warm layers if it is not possible to stay inside.
You can also stay warm by drinking a hot drink such as hot chocolate, coffee and apple cider or eating hot foods like soup and chili.
Other things to do to prepare for the weather is having books and board games to keep you busy if you lose power or are stuck at home in a blizzard.
