You get the warning that a winter storm is coming: When you prepare matters as much as how you prepare.

So I asked experts what you should do in the 72 hours, 48 hours and 24 hours before the storm arrives.

(MORE: Your first freeze is coming — see average dates by region)

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Dan Stoneking spent a career in the U.S. Army and 15 years at FEMA. He’s now the founder and owner of Stoneking Strategic Communications. Remy Kennedy is a communications program manager with the American Red Cross. Both say you should create a checklist, and here’s what should be on it.

72 hours before a storm: stock up and run errands

“At 72 hours out, I like to tell people that’s basically the time you do all the things outside of your house,” Stoneking said.

“One of the first things you want to do is evaluate your home situation,” Kennedy said. Who might need extra care in the cold? Kids, pets, older relatives, neighbors living alone.  Then you need to make your errands list.

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(MORE: 2026-2027 winter storm names and why they're important)

Errands checklist:

• Non-perishable groceries
• Medications: Stoneking says many people don’t know they can ask their pharmacist or doctor for an early refill ahead of a storm. If you might leave your home: “We want to make sure that you have at least a month’s worth of your prescription medication if possible,” Kennedy said.
• Cash: “If there’s an electrical outage, you want to have cash when an ATM is not going to work or a credit card can’t be accepted,” Stoneking explains.
• Gas and a car kit: Fill the tank in case you have to leave; stock an ice scraper and a first aid kit.
• A manual can opener: Very handy if you lose power, said Kennedy.
• Generator check: If you have one, make sure it has fuel and do a test run.
• Fireplace or wood stove: Have it checked and keep enough fuel to run it for at least 72 hours

"If you’re going to stay at home, have enough to sustain you for two weeks and at least gallon gallon of water per person per day,” Kennedy said. A go kit only needs a few days of supplies, plus blankets, hats and gloves.  

48 hours before the storm: apps, power and water

Make the call to stay or go. “You definitely want to make that solid decision 48 hours before and feel confident in that so that you have a plan and you can move forward,” Kennedy said. If you’re leaving, confirm where you’re staying, and let kids pick comfort items like a favorite blanket or toy.

Apps

 “Inside the home, we want to focus on downloading apps, power and water,” Stoneking said. Here are some the apps you set up:

• The Weather Channel app: “That’s certainly going to give you all the information you need about the threats, warning and how it impacts the geography that you’re at.”
• FEMA app: it shows threats for any ZIP code, so you can track conditions for family elsewhere and it lets you apply for aid if you’re in a declared disaster zone
• Red Cross emergency app: Not only will you receive watches and warnings for your area, you can also find available shelters
• Local emergency alerts: These are often opt-in. You can also follow your county or city government emergency groups on social media.

Power

• Collect every device in your home and charge them all — laptops, tablets, rechargeable razors
• Portable chargers: Pick them up during your errand run
• Medical devices: “CPAP machines, anything that requires charged, go ahead and have those things on hand,” Kennedy said.
• Download movies and shows: Streaming drains batteries faster than playing downloaded content.
• Check carbon monoxide detectors
• Lights and radio: Skip candles, use LED lanterns and a hand-crank radio, Kennedy suggested, so if the power goes out, “that radio is still working and a lot of them are solar powered.”

(MORE: What jacket to buy to really stay warm this winter)

Water

• Everyone showers, then fill the bathtub.
• Fill every empty jug or container.
• Make extra ice in bowls and trays to keep the fridge cold later, Stoneking suggests.
• Wash every dish.

24 hours before the storm: stay put and check in

"That's when you have to make the conscious choice to stay put. You've had your opportunity, and now it's time to stay put," Stoneking said.

• Check on neighbors: “You cannot imagine how much an elderly neighbor would appreciate you knocking on the door and say, Hey, listen, I’m ready. Are you?” Stoneking said.
• Write down phone numbers in case your phone dies.
• Print key records: Put medical and financial records in your go kit.
• Move your car: If there’s a tree where you normally park, park somewhere else.
• Final round of prep: Is everything charged? Top off water, and Stoneking suggests putting a blanket in every room so you’re not searching around in the dark.

During the storm

• Heat safely: Keep items at least 3 feet from space heaters and fireplaces, plug heaters straight into the wall, not a power strip.
• Generators, camp stoves stay outside: “You don’t want to bring those inside because that can cause carbon monoxide poisoning,” Kennedy said.
• Food safety: A full freezer holds for up to 48 hours, half-full for up to 24. The Red Cross advises throwing out anything that has been above 40 degrees for more than two hours

"The more that you prepare, the more you can feel confident when the storm hits," Kennedy said.