Editor’s Note: Our fictional friends Jane and Zymir review ways to keep your home safe this winter.

By Robert Ambrose

Jane: Ok, so we have had some cold days since the holiday season. Are we missing anything?

Zymir: Checking the forecast is important. Snow and cold rain is more intense that previous decades because winter is compressed into a shorter cycle. Basically, the intensity of winter can spike.

Jane: Really? Only several weeks but more intensity?

Zymir: Climate change shortens winter, but nature balances it out.

Jane: I see so smoke alarms are more important than ever since people are couped up inside.

Zymir: Exactly. Philadelphia’s old buildings also can have bad electrical wiring. That is a leading cause of fire. In fact…

Jane: I know what you’re gonna’ say…Red Cross installs free smoke alarms.

Zymir: No one in our area has a reason to not have smoke alarms. All free.

Jane: Just ask the Red Cross.

Zymir: Yep. Red Cross comes to you with their free smoke alarms.

Jane: In winter dress for success with warm layers of loose clothes – coat, hat, gloves.

Zymir: Try to stay inside. Have a backup plan to go to the library or a friend’s house if your house heater fails.

Jane: Makes sense to stock food and medicine.

Zymir: A month’s supply of medications.

Jane: Winter can knock out water supply so save a gallon of water per person per day.

Zymir: Power can stop. If you use a generator do not bring it inside. Also, don’t bring any grills, camp stove, or gas/charcoal-burning stoves inside. The one I love is: don’t hurt yourself shoveling or even using a snow-blower.

Jane: Someone’s trying to stay inside?

Zymir: No just protecting myself. By the way people need to be alert to announcements. Like have a battery-operated radio in case power goes out.

Jane: Have a phone charger handy and three days’ supplies in case you need to go somewhere else.

Zymir: Because of snow?

Jane: Yes. Winter is unpredictable. We must get through another winter. That’s all.