With Buffalo, N.Y., buried under nearly six feet ofsnow, and a new band of storms expected to bring an additionalthree feet within the next few days, winter has arrived a monthearly.

Across the U.S., many regions are battling freezing temperaturesand extreme weather conditions. And while the snow may be beautifulat first, the intensity and severity of recent weather events canbe dangerous by inflicting personal injury, but also propertydamage.

Forecasters predict another cold and snowy winter season,homeowners and business owners must stay informed and take properprecautions to keep their homes and businesses safe.

“With this early onset of severe winter weather, please take thetime to understand the various winter weather alerts and stay tunedto the NationalWeather Service advisories,” said Julie Rochman, president andCEO of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety(IBHS).

“We encourage residents and business owners to take steps nowand use IBHS’ recommendations to protect your home or businesstoday and be prepared. It could be a very long winter season,”Rochman said.

In order to keep clients safe despite inclement winter weather,IBHS has compiled a list of guidance and advice to reduce propertydamage in the event of severe winter conditions. Click through thefollowing slides for guidance for navigating the extremetemperatures and snowfalls.

Stay safe and warm

While alternative heating, such as wood stoves, space heaters,and fireplaces, are a great way to keep warm during chillingtemperatures, it does come with risks. Advise clients to takeproper precautions and do their research before selecting,installing, or using an alternative heat source. See IBHS’ tips and considerations for usingalternative heat sources to keep clients safe this winter.

Plan for a Power Outage

Heavy snowfalls and high winds have the potential to damagepower lines. Inclement winter weather can be a recipe forwidespread power outages, and it is important that families preparefor possible outages. Considering alternative sources of heat,while also keeping flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable fooditems handy will be helpful in the event of an outage.

Prevent Roof Collapse

Parts of the country have already experienced significantsnowfalls this year before the winter season has officially begun.With a long winter ahead, homeowners and business owners should beaware that intense snowfalls and accumulation can put strain on aroof, causing damage, and potentially, a collapse.

Unless the roof structure is damaged or decayed, mostresidential roofs should be able to support up to 20 pounds of snowper square foot of roof space before becoming stressed. Buthomeowners should also know how much snow and ice weighs in orderto gauge the level of risk.

According to IBHS, the following conditions correspond to thefollowing weights:

• Fresh snow: 10 to 12 inches of new snow is equal to one inch ofwater, weighing approximately five pounds per square foot of roofspace. Therefore, the average home could endure up to four feet ofnew snow before becoming stressed.
• Packed snow: Three to five inches of old snow is equal to oneinch of water, or approximately five pounds per square foot of roofspace. Anything more than two feet of old snow could be too muchfor a roof to handle.
• Total accumulated weight: Two feet of old snow and two feet ofnew snow could weigh as much as 60 pounds per square foot of roofspace, which is beyond the typical snow load capacity for mostroofs.
• Ice: One inch of ice equals one foot of snow.

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Prevent Ice Dams

While the heat from the home may becomforting as the wind swirls outside, it is important to considerthat during freezing weather, the heat from a home or business canescape through the roof and melt the snow that has accumulatedthere. That snowmelt can trickle down to the roof’s edge andrefreeze, creating an ice dam that leaves additional snowmelt withno place to go but under the roof.

While this could lead to disastrous results, IBHS recommends thefollowing tips for reducing the risk of ice dams:

• Keep all drains, scuppers, gutters, and downspouts free ofdebris and vegetation that may restrict proper flow.
• Remove or relocate heat sources that are installed in openattic areas directly under the roof, such as an attic.
• Insulate light fixtures in the ceiling below an unheated atticspace.
• If you have penetrations into the attic, such as vents, sealand insulate them so that daylight cannot be seen and airflow isminimal.
• If ice dams form around the drains, connect heating cables tothe drains to prevent ice buildup. Heating cables can also beplaced on the roof, connecting them to the drainage system so apath is created for the melting ice to fol

Prevent Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes can put homeowners at extreme risk for propertydamage. A burst pipe can result in more than $5,000 in waterdamage, according to recent IBHS research.

In order to prevent a costly water damage bill caused by frozenpipes, IBHS recommends that homeowners and business owners providea reliable back-up power source to ensure continuous power to thebuilding. Furthermore, attic penetrations, wall cracks, and windowsshould be properly insulated and sealed.

By installing insulation or heat trace tape with a reliablepower source on various wet sprinkler system piping, homeowners canfurther prevent freezing pipes. This also includes main linescoming from the underground, passing through a wall, as well assprinkler branch lines.

Finally, homeowners should consider placing a monitoredautomatic excess flow switch on the main incoming domestic waterline. This will provide early detection of a broken pipe or valvewhen the space is unoccupied.

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Install Weather Stripping and Seals

Stay warmer and keep your heating bills lower by installingweather stripping and seals to prevent freezing temperatures frominfiltrating the home. Doing so will help keep severe winterweather out of the home or business, but will also increase energyefficiency by limiting drafts and reducing the amount of cold airthat may enter the building.

Windows and doors, vents and fans, plumbing, air conditioners,electrical and gas lines, and mail chutes are just some of theareas home and business owners should inspect for leaks.