Winter storm prep checklist: what to do 72, 48 and 24 hours out

If a winter storm is three days out, what you do now can make all the difference. At 72 hours out, I like to tell people that's basically the time you do all the things outside of your house. That's the grocery run for sure. Refill prescriptions, fill your gas tanks, and grab cash. If there's an electrical outage, you want to have cash. When an ATM is not going to work, or a credit card can't be accepted. If you're going to stay at home, Have enough to sustain you for two weeks and at least a gallon of water per person. Two days out, decide whether you're staying or leaving. Download and set up the Weather Channel, FEMA, Red Cross, and Local Alert apps now, before you need them. Charge every device in your home. Another thing you can do after everybody's had their shower is you can fill up your bathtub with water. With one day to go, the most important move is staying home. If there's a tree where you normally park, park somewhere else. Check on your neighbors, especially anyone older or living alone, even if you just send a text. The more that you prepare, the more you can feel confident when the storm hits.