It always pays to be prepared for winter weather. There are a few simple steps you can take to prepare yourself, your car and your home.

1. We are so reliant on technology to keep in touch with others and to run our busy lives, but if a storm meant power and mobile phone networks were affected, what would you do? Consider a separate battery charger, and you could store key information such as the power cut helpline number (105) on your phone.
2. Cold weather can be a risk to your health, particularly if you are over 65 or have health conditions. Ideally your home (and those of elderly relatives and neighbours) should be heated to at least 18°C. Now it’s cold, keep your windows closed at night as this can cause a real drop in the temperature indoors. If you have a heating boiler, consider getting it serviced as soon as possible.
3. Think about what may be affected by strong winds or flooding. In windy weather surprising things can become dangerous. Trees or branches can come down, cast iron guttering could be lethal and so can roof slates. Garden furniture and even children’s toys and trampolines can fly around causing damage and potential harm, and fences can become problems too.
4. Insulating pipes has two benefits – you’ll keep the heat in, saving you money, but it also means reduced the risk of frozen pipes which can burst, causing flooding, damage and leaving your home without water. It's also important to know where your stop tap (also called stopcock or stop valve) is and to check it regularly to make sure it is working. This will allow you to turn off the water to your home quickly should there be a problem.
5. It’s worth thinking about how you might get to work during severe weather. Sometimes roads may be more affected than the rail network, but on other occasions the opposite may be true. You may also be able to use a bus if the main roads are clear. Think about whether there's an option for you to work from home if travel is not advised? You should also think about alternative childcare options if schools or nurseries are closed.
6. Make sure you have basic supplies in case you must leave home quickly, or your power and water are disrupted. It's worth putting together an emergency bag with bottled water, medicines, a torch, radio and batteries, copies of important documents and a change of clothes.
7. Checking your car is ready for winter is really important. Take a quick check of your tyres. It's dangerous and illegal to drive in winter conditions with low levels of tread on your vehicle’s tyres. Use a screen wash additive to keep your windscreen free of winter road grime caused by road salting and gritting. Getting stuck in your car in winter could be dangerous, so get a winter car kit ready. You never know when you might need it.
8. Not everyone is able to get the help or information they may require to keep them safe and well in winter. It's nice to be neighbourly, and the human contact with others can have really positive effects for everyone. You may be able to help your neighbour with an important job to prepare for winter, or your neighbour may be able to help you. Just taking time to make contact will be appreciated.
9. Winter weather coincides with the flu season, and flu can affect people in different ways. If you are healthy, you will usually shake it off within a week, but for young children, older people, or those with chronic health conditions, it can be very serious. The annual flu vaccination is offered free to people who are most at risk from the effects of flu.