Winter Storm Preparation Washington DC

If this fall's killer storms are any indication of the long, frigid winter ahead, preparation is the name of the game.

An impatient Mother Nature didn't wait around for the winter solstice and instead has already sent blustery waves of storms howling across the nation, leaving some 1 million people in the dark in a matter of days.

With an aging power grid in much of the nation no match for winter storms, blackouts, unfortunately for now, are a way of life.

Unlike summer blackouts that often come with warnings as a heatwave progresses, winter storm blackouts hit with much less warning.

Prepare for them.

Here's the short list of winter blackout preparation tips to get you started. Contact your utility company and local emergency planning office for more detailed steps you should take based on your household's needs.

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