Storms happen with little to no warning.

It's not pleasant or on the forefront of your mind to think about downed trees, high winds and how they might affect you, your family and your home, but it's important to be prepared for it nonetheless.

Storm prep is more involved than stopping by the grocery store to stock up or to fill your vehicles with gas, even though this is an important step.

Here's a checklist of five steps you should consider taking to prepare for a storm:

Sign up for warnings and alerts:

1. Check your phone to make sure your receiving alerts.
2. TV, radio and Sirens are all good important information hubs.
3. Sign up for your local towns emergency warning system via text or email.

Know the specific risks for your area:

1. Flooding
2. Downed Trees
3. Power outages

Make, test and share a plan:

1. How will you contact emergency services or family with loss of power?
2. Where are the safest places for shelter in your home?
3. If you have to evacuate, where will you go?
4. If you have medical devices what is your backup energy source for loss of power?
5. What is your backup plan if routes to get your children are blocked?
6. If you have pets what is your plan to take them with you?
7. Do you have a location to meet up with family if you get separated?
8. Test your plan and share it with your neighbors and family.

Build an emergency supplies kit:

1. Food and Water to last several days (nonperishable)
2. Flashlights with fresh batteries (one per person in the household)
3. First aid kit
4. Fire extinguisher
5. Pet and infant supplies
6. Charge power banks and have required cables to keep your devices powered up.
7. Fill your vehicles with gas prior to the storm.
8. Pack spare clothes for you and your family.
9. Collect vital documents (passports, birth certificates etc.)

If you have a generator as a backup power source:

1. Check your propane tank fill level – call and schedule a fill up if required.
2. Verify the overall integrity of the unit with a visual inspection.
3. Trim any branches or debris that would damage the generator.
4. Test the properly installed generator-transfer switch.
5. Keep all windows and doors closed near operating generators.

Mitchell can run the gas lines for your generator and provide the propane as well. Contact us at 800-237-3835 to learn more about how we can assist you with your generator install.