冬季风暴来之前先备齐几天的物资：发电机只能在室外用，离门窗至少20英尺
美国联邦应急准备平台 Ready.gov 说，冬季风暴会带来更高的车祸、失温、冻伤、一氧化碳中毒和过度用力引发心脏病的风险，一场风暴可以持续几小时到几天，切断供暖、电力和通讯，让长者、儿童、病人和宠物处在更大的风险里。准备工作要在风暴警报发出之前做完。
先把几个词分清：冬季风暴警告（Winter Storm Warning）表示危险的冬季天气即将发生或正在发生，通常提前12到24小时发布；冬季风暴观察（Winter Storm Watch）表示有可能出现暴风雪、大雪、冻雨或雨夹雪，通常提前12到48小时发布；冬季天气提示（Winter Weather Advisory）表示积雪和结冰会带来明显不便、处置不当可能危及生命。消息来源认准天气预报、社区警报系统、紧急警报系统和 NOAA 气象广播。
家里要提前备好可能要在家待几天的物资，算上每个人的特殊需要，包括药物，也别忘了宠物，并备好收音机和手电的电池。房子本身要做好保温、填缝和密封条，学会防止水管冻结，并安装带备用电池的烟雾报警器和一氧化碳探测器并测试。付不起取暖费的家庭，可以联系低收入家庭能源援助计划（LIHEAP）。
停电时最危险的动作是取暖方式用错：发电机和烤架只能在室外、远离窗户使用，发电机和燃料要放在离窗户、门和附建车库至少20英尺外，并让发电机保持干燥；绝不能用燃气灶或烤箱给家里取暖。车里也要有一套应急包：搭电线、沙子、手电、保暖衣服、毯子、瓶装水和不易坏的零食，并保持油箱加满。（来源：Ready.gov）
Prepare for Winter Storms Before They Cut the Power: Generators Stay Outdoors, at Least 20 Feet From Windows
Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning and heart attacks from overexertion, and a storm can last a few hours or several days, cut off heat, power and communication services, and put older adults, children, sick individuals and pets at greater risk, the federal preparedness platform Ready.gov says. Preparation has to happen before a warning is issued.
The terms matter: a Winter Storm Warning means hazardous winter weather is imminent or occurring and is usually issued 12 to 24 hours ahead; a Winter Storm Watch means a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet is possible, usually 12 to 48 hours ahead; and a Winter Weather Advisory means accumulations will cause significant inconveniences and could lead to life-threatening situations if caution is not exercised. Weather reports, community warning systems, the Emergency Alert System and NOAA Weather Radio are the alert sources named.
At home, gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power, counting each person's specific needs including medication, remembering pets, and keeping extra batteries for radios and flashlights. Prepare the house with insulation, caulking and weather stripping, learn how to keep pipes from freezing, and install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups. Households unable to afford heating costs can contact the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help.
The most dangerous outage mistake is heating the wrong way: generators and grills belong outdoors and away from windows, with generators and fuel used outdoors at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages and kept dry, and a gas stovetop or oven must never be used to heat a home. Cars need an emergency kit as well: jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks, with a full tank of gas. (Source: Ready.gov)
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图片来源：图：覆雪的冷杉林。Wikimedia Commons 图片（CC BY-SA 3.0）。 / Photo: Snow-covered fir trees. Image via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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