ST. LOUIS — There will be near-blizzard conditions possible as a winter storm hits the St. Louis area Thursday and into Friday.
5 On Your Side’s meteorology team suggests that an arctic blast will arrive Thursday morning with rain quickly changing into snow as the arctic front passes through the St. Louis area.
In the wake of the storm, some residents may be concerned about possible power outages. Here are a few ways to stay warm during a winter outage, according to Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports said that the biggest threat from a power outage is the lack of heat. In addition, they said the danger is that some alternative heating systems pose their own threats. These threats include fire and carbon monoxide.
Get a generator
Portable generators can be found at a local CK Power store, which has several locations including in St. Louis. If you cannot find a portable generator at a home center or power equipment dealer, try looking for a recreational generator at stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goods or Walmart, according to Consumer Reports.
• Never use a generator indoors or within 20 feet of your house.
Seal window and door leaks
Seal leaks around windows and doors using caulk or weather stripping if you can, according to Consumer Reports. You can grab these items at a nearby hardware store and prices vary anywhere between $2-15 for the more affordable brands.
There are also different brands of weather stripping available at local retailers including Menards which has the item for anywhere between $10-$50.
If you can not get these materials, then look for duct tape and clear plastic sheeting. According to Consumer Reports, clear lets sunlight in through the windows, which helps warm the room. In addition, for drafty doors, use draft guards. If you can’t find them, then towel or blanket use works fine.
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor.
• If you use your car to stay warm or charge devices, make sure it’s outside the garage.
Use a fireplace and another heat source
If you plan on turning the fireplace on, then do not sleep with it on. Consumer Reports recommends using a portable propane heater designed for indoor use in emergencies. If you do use one, it is important to follow all the safety instructions and make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
Please keep your kids, pets, and other flammable materials away from heating sources or keep an eye on them if you are in the same room. Do not sleep with these heating sources on.
• Indoor portable heaters should have an automatic shutoff switch in case they tip over.
5 On Your Side also recommends turning on the shower, getting a humidifier or boiling water on the stove to keep air comfortable. Just keep an eye on everything.
• Never use a device such as an oven to produce heat unless that’s its intended purpose.
4. Camp out indoors
While you may not be able to get a generator on short notice, you may have access to camping gear. Setting up a tent indoors and bundling up in sleeping bags can help you stay warm as temperatures inside dip.
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In an emergency, dial 211 to be connected to the United Way resource directory. Warming shelters are also available throughout the St. Louis region.
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