Harsh weather is a reality in much of the United States throughout the winter. That is why it is a good idea to have a home winter individual survival supply kit, so if you are struck with a big snow storm, ice storm, or just really freezing weather, you have what you need to stay safe and warm inside of your home.

#1 Water Supply

The most basic thing that you should always have on hand is some water. That way, if anything happens to the city water supply or your pump, you have water. Stock up on gallon jugs of bottled water as winter approaches. Water, more than food, is the most important supply to have on hand.

#2 Easy to Prepare Food

Next, you want to have food that is easy to prepare if the power goes out and you can't use your stove, microwave, or toaster to cook the food. You don't need to have an entire pantry of non-perishable foods, but you should keep at least a week's worth of non-perishable food in your home.

Some good examples of easy to prepare non-perishable food include cracks, shelf-stable milk, cereal, canned beans, applesauce, peanut or nut butter, and jelly. You want foods that are not just non-perishable, but also easy to prepare and you want the foods to not require heating either, so you can make the food if you don't have power.

#3 Light Sources

You need to be able to see. Candles can be great if you don't have kids or pets in your home, but if you do, candles are not the safest option. Make sure that you have a flashlight for at least every person in your home as well as a good supply of batteries that could get you through a week.

You can purchase LED flashlights that will last for years without the need to change the battery. You can purchase other battery powered lights for your home beside flashlights as well. Make sure that you have a few battery-powered light options for your home in case the power goes out.

#4 Have a Way to Stay Warm

Finally, you need a way to stay warm. That may mean that you have lots of blankets, gloves, hats, and scarfs on hand. However, it is usually helpful to also have a heating source. If you have a fireplace, make sure that you have wood or pellets to fuel the fireplace. If that is not an option, see if you can get a gas-powered heater for your home. If you use a gas-powered heater though, make sure that you have a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm; you always want to stay safe while staying warm. It is a good idea for everyone in the house to keep to one or two rooms and shut up the rest of the home when you don't know when your power is going to come back on.

This winter, make sure that your family has the tools to get through a winter storm. Make sure that you have a fresh water supply, non-perishable food that doesn't require heat to prepare, light sources, and a way to stay warm.