Have you heard the joke that everyone seems to crave French toast whenever a blizzard or hurricane is forecast? It’s because all the eggs, bread, and milk fly off grocery store shelves as folks realize they haven’t properly stocked their pantries for potential power outages and travel restrictions. But there’s a lot more to stocking your school’s metaphorical pantry than food staples. Get your school’s campus prepared for winter weather with these winter preparedness tips!
1. Stock up on supplies before it’s an emergency.
When Halloween rolled around and we saw the stores start displaying bags of rock salt and snow shovels, we laughed and walked back to our cars in light jackets. Now it’s Thanksgiving, and with our winter parkas already seeing use in some parts of the country, we’re no longer laughing.
So don’t just think about buying shovels, ice melt, and fuel for the emergency generator—actually go out and purchase them! Remember, too, to budget for extra supplies should your stockpile run low. Be prepared to pay premium prices when demand is high and supplies are low. (And don’t just think of facilities supplies—winter sniffles will run through your regular supply of tissues at an alarming rate.)
2. Winterize outdoor “summer” facilities loose ends.
There are a variety of outdoor odds and ends that should be properly winterized before the real cold weather hits. Now’s the time to make sure anything underground that must be fixed—wiring, pipes, and other fixtures—is repaired before the ground freezes. Drain outdoor hoses and spigots before storing or turning off water entirely, to make sure they don’t crack as remaining water freezes and expands. If outdoor lights aren’t set to turn off and on via light sensors and are on timers instead, recalibrate those mechanisms so the reduced daylight hours are taken into account.
In addition to preparing outdoor facilities for their winter “hibernation," remember to maintain those facilities you’ll continue to use as the weather grows colder. Playgrounds and sidewalks both can cause accidents if not properly prepared for ice and snow.
3. Check your heating system!
Even if your heating system was functioning wonderfully last winter, it’s been idle for months now and probably needs a tune-up. So schedule a maintenance appointment with your heating system provider before it’s a dire emergency. Some issues to keep an eye out for are:
- dirty filters;
- frayed and cracked blower belts;
- low oil in your blower motor;
- unsealed blower doors, which can cause carbon monoxide leaks; and
- obstructed exhaust flues.
It doesn’t feel like winter’s truly “arrived” until the first snowfall of the season—or frost forms on your windshield, if you’re one of the lucky ones in a warmer region of the country. Don't wait until it’s too late to properly prepare and winterize your school’s “emergency pantry.” Get ready for extreme weather ahead of time, and you, too, can avoid the French toast party in grocery stores.
Additional ISM resources:
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 2 No. 5 Winter Hazards
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 4 No. 6 Winter Playground Safety
ISM Monthly Update for Business Officers Vol. 12 No. 6 Winter Health Tips: Shoveling Safety
Additional ISM resources for Gold Consortium members:
I&P Vol. 39 No. 7 Facilities Management for the Year-Round School
I&P Vol. 31 No. 14 Replace, Repair, Renew: Why a Facility Audit Helps
I&P Vol. 28 No. 14 A Maintenance Plan Extends the Useful Life of Facilities
