Winter Storm Survival Checklist

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiantEaglePerks #CollectiveBias

Do you know how to prepare for a winter storm? Most of us will face some type of severe winter weather in our lifetime. Even if you live in the tropics, you may travel somewhere for a ski trip and then get stuck in a surprise blizzard due to changes in weather patterns. Hey, it happened to me on a Montreal trip a few years ago! I escaped one blizzardy tundra for another -_-

One of the biggest risks with winter storms is their ability to trap you indoors for days at a time due to unsafe road conditions. Winter storms can even knock out your power, heat and communication devices if it snows enough to mess with power lines. With a REALLY bad winter storm, you can sometimes be trapped inside for a week due to closed roads, schools and businesses, so it’s best to be prepared.

Living on Chautauqua Lake & minutes away from Lake Erie, it’s safe to say we get our fair share of winter storms. That darn lake effect snow usually guarantees us at least one major winter storm a year. Once October hits, it’s not shocking at all to see snowflakes on our weather apps if WNY/NWPA is where you call home.

Apparently in 2006, a blizzard hit Lake Erie pretty hard right before Halloween and no local will ever EVER let you forget it! (I didn’t move here until 2011). If I learned even one valuable lesson from all those blizzard of 2006 tales, it’s that you head to your local Giant Eagle once you start buying pumpkin everything to stock up on those winter storm survival items! You want to be nice and prepared for whatever Mother Nature might bring you weather wise!

Why Giant Eagle? Fuel Perks!

Launched on 9/28/17, not only do shoppers now get discounts on GetGo’s gas, prescription copays, Curbside Express orders and giftcards, now shoppers also can redeem their points on up to 20% off their total grocery bill or up to a free tank of gas! That’s right, YOU choose how you’d like to use your perks! The more you choose to shop with Giant Eagle, the more you save on the things YOU actually want!!!

More Perks, More Places, More Savings. Learn how the Perks Program works and get 100 bonus perks by clicking here!

There really are so many great benefits to the fuelperks! program. I love how I can earn perks on fuel purchases and have the choice to redeem on food OR fuel. When it’s time to redeem you can look forward to $0.10 off per gallon of gas OR 2% off your groceries!!! I’m all about those lower gas prices this time of year with all those fall activities I’m driving to, so I’m always redeeming my perks for fuel!

Once winter hits and I'm not driving as much, hello lower grocery bills since you can redeem on up to 20% off any grocery order (in a single transaction of up to $10,000 in qualifying purchases). Perks accumulated above 20% may be used on a future shopping trip!

How Do I Apply For Fuel Perks?

Do you have a Giant Eagle Advantage Card? Yes? Then that’s it! You already have Fuel Perks! Your Giant Eagle Advantage Card will track when you earn and redeem perks!

If you don’t have a Giant Eagle Advantage Card and you’d like to sign up for one, you can visit the Customer Service desk at your neighborhood Giant Eagle where you can register for free in less than five minutes! Or, you can register by phone; just call 1-800-553-2324.

If you don't have an advantage card and would like to sign up to track when you earn and redeem perks, you can visit theCustomer Service desk. Or, you canregister by phone; just call 1-866-620-0216.

How Can I View My Perks?

It is easy to view perks status on Giant Eagle’s new mobile app!!! If you’re team iPhone, just download the iOS version. If you’re team android, download the android version of the mobile app!

Winter Storm Survival List

Now that you know you will earn perks while shopping at Giant Eagle for Winter Storm Supplies, let me tell you what I suggest you pick up on your shopping trip!

3 Days Worth Of Bottled Water Per Person

Make sure you keep your house nice and stocked up on water! Your pipes can freeze during a winter storm and you will want plenty to drink! Experts say to keep a 3 Days stock, so that’s what I’m going with. I even suggest filling a few pans full of water and a few empty milk jugs if a storm is on its way. That way if your pipes freeze, you can still flush your toilets, wash your face, brush your teeth etc. without using all of your bottled drinking water.

3 Days Of Food Per Person

Nothing worse than running out of food! Keep your house stocked with canned goods/non parishables. Ramen is another great option because you can soak your ramen in water and the noodles will soften in 10-15 minutes if you lose power! I also like to keep peanut butter and jelly on hand! We always have a ridiculous amount of bread in our house, so if a storm is about to hit, we can have pb&j sandwitches! Plus peanut butter is filled with protein, so it will keep you nice and fueled.

If you have pets, don’t forget about them!!! Keep a few cans of food on hand for them as well. That way if your furbaby runs out of dry food before the storm passes, they won’t be going hungry.

Bathroom Items

I think every last person on earth has had a nightmare of running out of toilet paper! Don’t let your nightmare become a reality during that blizzard and keep your house nice and stocked of TP!!!

If you’re a female, then another nightmare would be getting a monthly visit from Aunt Flo and being out of supplies. Keep an extra stash in your bathroom for emergencies such as severe winter weather!

Have little ones in the house?! Diapers!!!! Keep a ridiculous amount of diapers on hand!!!! Knowone wants to deal with a poopy situation!!!!

Medical Supplies

Does your family have a first aid kit?!? If you’re answer is no, this might be the time to get one! With roads being unsafe to travel on, it could take a while for a professional to come save the day if trouble were to arise. Have basic supplies on hand to hold you over.

Do you take prescriptions?! Make sure you have enough to make it though the storm! If you can get a few months supply at a time, Winter is the time to take advantage! Stay stocked.

I also suggest keeping a basic pain reliever on hand! Being trapped indoors with your family for a week can bring on a few headaches. That pain reliever will become your bestie ;-)

Lighting

Since we were all little, no matter where in the world you live, flashlights, batteries, lighters and candles are a must have for your house in case of a power outage! If the snow gets heavy and power lines start going down, you will be thanking your lucky stars you have your basics on hand!

Kitchen Supplies

Snow storm or not, your family is going to be making those same messes they do year on out! Make sure you have enough paper towels, hand wipes, garbage bags etc to make it though the storm! If you’re trapped inside for a week, you will want a somewhat livable/clean space to dwell in.

Basic Winter Supplies

Eventually all that snow is going to start melting and you’re going to have to trek into the cold outdoors once again! Make sure you have hats and gloves! You will also want a ice scraper to chip all that ice and snow off of your car.

Things like kitty litter and snow salt can come in handy if you’re car is too snowed in and you need to get it out of that spot! Sometimes the roads can be clear as day, but your car is “trapped”due to chunks of snow and ice. Snow salt and kitty litter can do wonders.

Every single winter weather emergency site mentions having plenty of blankets on hand! First thing that comes to my mind is duh! We all have comforters! If you’re power and heat go out, you will want to bury yourself in as many blankets as possible. A comforter may not be enough, so make sure you have a few spare blankets around.

You will also want your car filled with gas!! If you’re car has too little gas in it, you may not be able to start your vehicle once it’s safe to hit the roads again. If you need to drive due to an emergency situation, you will be thankful for that gas tank being filled since your local GetGo will most likely be closed due to the severe weather.

Let’s Chat!

Have you been in a winter storm before? Are you a member of Giant Eagle Fuel Perks? For further information on the Perk Program Terms, Conditions & FAQ's, click away

here!