The first bout of winter weather has arrived in the the First State, and state officials suggest now is the time to prepare vehicles and homes for winter.
Tuesday travel around Delaware was marked by non-accumulating snow mixed in with light rain and some slick spots.
And with temperatures dropping this week to record lows in some areas, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) says you should make sure you are prepared for winter weather.
DEMA's Gary Laing says that includes a home emergency kit.
It has the flashlights, the batteries. Everyone might huddle together in the same room to sleep, so sleeping bags and blankets and pillows are very important." said Laing. "Of course, you want to have all the other things that are involved in an emergency kit too, the emergency supply of water.”
Laing adds that non-perishable food, and food you don’t have to heat up if you lose electricity are also important to keep in the kit.
He says you should also winterize your vehicle.
"Cold weather just sucks the power out of a battery, so if you have an older battery, you might want to replace it before you go out in the morning and find out your car won't start. Check the antifreeze levels, make sure you have a blanket in the car should you be stranded somewhere, and the car breaks down."
Laing also suggests keeping energy bars or snacks that will stay fresh and won’t freeze in your car, and getting the tires checked to make sure they can withstand the elements.
Laing says its best to stock up now, and not to wait for the bitter cold or snow to come. If you wait until the last minute, he notes you might not be able to find some of the necessities.