Q • I am never prepared for winter. It seems like the cold and winter storms always catch me off guard. What can I do to better prepare myself for the upcoming winter season?

We tend to think about winter weather mostly in terms of shoveling snow and melting ice, but here are a couple of other tips that will help you battle the cold weather and potential storms:

One of the things we don't prepare for as well with winter storms, but seems to be happening more frequently, are power outages. With that in mind, I would recommend getting a temporary power source. This is especially true for families that buy food in bulk and freeze it or for families that have small children or family members that have special dietary requirements or medication.

Refrigerators and freezers will only keep things cold or frozen for a few hours before there is potential for food spoilage. When you choose a generator, remember that a standard 16 cubic foot refrigerator will use about 700-750 watts of power. It is important not exceed the running watts of the generator you select.

I would recommend listing the items that you would want to use during an outage. You can use the owner's manual or call the manufacturer (important to have the model number available) to determine how many watts of power it takes to run the items on your list. Add up the running watts needed for your list — this will help you select the proper generator. Generators come in all shapes and sizes and a variety of prices. Take the information you have gathered to your local home improvement store, and an associate can help you choose the best generator.

The second item on the winter checklist should be your transportation. A couple of quick steps will help you get your vehicle ready for winter. One easy thing you can do is fill your windshield washer fluid tank with Winter Warrior windshield deicer. This product, which is less than $3, can be mixed with the normal windshield washer fluid to keep your windshield from icing over.

If you travel a lot or your vehicle is parked outside, it is a good idea to have a set of jumper cables or a power source to jump-start your car. Black and Decker makes a few great products that can help get your car started on those surprise mornings when your battery is dead.

It never hurts to have a scraper. There are some that have a built-in mitten attached, so your hand doesn't have to freeze while you scrape ice and snow off your windshield.

Taylor Reich is the store manager for the Sunset Hills Home Depot store.