Winter storm to cause havoc across GA. How best to prepare — it’s not buying milk & bread
Georgia is anticipating what experts are calling a historic ice storm with forecasters issuing warnings about crippling ice, dangerous roads and power outages.
Officials say most Georgians should be prepared to stay home, possibly without power, through at least early next week.
The priority is simply to stock up, think through an outage, and have a plan to stay warm and safe.
Prepare your GA home
Plan for at least three days of easy, no‑cook meals. If you don’t already have these items, grab a few before the weekend.
Grocery items
- Peanut butter
- Canned soups
- Canned tuna or chicken
- Nuts
- Granola bars
- Crackers
- Shelf-stable milk
- Fruit cups
- At least one gallon of drinking water per person (and extra for pets)
Necessity items
- Flashlights
- Battery lanterns
- Extra batteries
- Battery or hand-crank radio
- Cordless chargers for phones and devices
From around the house
- Extra blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Warm socks, hats and gloves
- Fireplace wood or indoor heaters
Errands to run
- Refill prescriptions
- Items for babies, elderly people or disabled people
- Fill your gas tank
- Move vehicles away from large trees
- Re-up your car kit
If the power goes out
Although reports continue to shift as new information about the upcoming story becomes available, it is possible that Georgia residents could lose power.
Use regional power outage trackers to see what areas are without power, and take measures to protect and prepare your home.
- Always assume a downed line is live and report it immediately
- Unplug sensitive electronics to protect from surges when power comes back
- Never use a gas oven, charcoal grill or generator inside your home
- Keep generators outside and at least 20 feet from doors and windows
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed
- Use text instead of calls to conserve phone battery
Keeping the house warm
If residents lose power in temperatures in the 20s, it could get cold pretty fast. Take steps to winterize your home before the weather hits.
- Close curtains and blinds at night, open sun‑facing ones during the day
- Block drafts around doors and windows
- Pick one “warm room” as your main living and sleeping space
- Close interior doors to trap body heat
- Dress in layers
- Use fireplaces and space heaters carefully: open flues, plug directly into the way and turn them off before sleeping
Check the yard and outside
- Check and clear gutters and drains
- Bring pets and plants inside
- Secure items that could be damaged by ice
Once you are stocked and set up, the safest move is to stay home, stay warm and wait for roads and power to stabilize before heading back out.
Monitor the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer and official weather sites for the most up-to-date information.