01/21/2026
Alabama is facing the prospect of a significant winter storm over the weekend.
How to be prepared 👇👇👇
The National Weather Service said there is an increasing potential for parts of the state to get snow, or worse, freezing rain, starting as soon as Friday night and lasting into Sunday night.
The biggest concern is the potential for freezing rain, which could accumulate on trees and power lines and lead to power outages as well as hazardous road conditions.
The weather service thinks that, if the worst-case scenario materializes and Alabama is hit with an ice storm, then the effects could last into the beginning of next week.
No power (or heat, or hot water, or internet) during a winter storm is no fun, so what do you need to do to be prepared -- just in case?
The National Weather Service in Birmingham has a few suggestions:
*Have plenty of food that doesn’t need to be heated or cooled. Think peanut butter, crackers, jerky, canned chicken or tuna, pork and beans and fruit. And yes, bread for sandwiches.
*Have some extra water on hand in case the pipes freeze or water systems have problems.
*Make sure you are stocked up on any medicine you may need in case you are stranded for a few days.
*Bring out all the blankets, and locate your warmest clothes so they are ready to go if you lose power.
*Get batteries for radios or flashlights.
*Trim any trees around the house that could fall on power lines or the house or your car.
*Make sure your neighbors are prepared.
*If you have a generator make sure it’s in running order and gassed up. Keep it at least 20 feet from the house and never bring it inside.
*Make sure your pets are taken care of -- bring them inside if you can.
*Protect your pipes: Drain them, insulate them or allow them to drip to prevent bursting.
*Charge phones and computers.
*Be careful with space heaters or propane heaters
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Lamar Co EMA
