With snowflakes flying any minute now, we want to make sure you are prepared for another white winter.

Is your ice scraper in your vehicle yet? Are your boots ready by the door? Got gas in the snowblower? These are just some of the questions probably racing through your head as winter approaches. Here's a list of 10 things to do to prepare for Maine's longest season.

  • 1

    Get some sand or salt

    Everyone knows by now, walking on ice is a very sketchy situation. So make sure you have some way of creating traction for main walkways and icy steps. Even if you are confident in your ice walking skills, you should still sand or salt areas your mailman or delivery person may take in order to keep these people safe as well.

  • 2

    Put away things in the yard

    Grills, tables, chairs, lawn mowers, anything you don't want damaged by the elements should be put in storage or covered. This might also include things like your water hose, lawn ornaments, and garden equipment.

  • 3

    Dig out your winter clothes

    Forget fashion and think warm! This season is all about layers! Long johns under flannel, fleece, and 2 jackets is sometimes still not enough. Don't forget gloves, hats, wool socks, a scarf or something to keep your neck warm (do people still wear Neck Dickies?)

  • 4

    Check heat sources for safety and function

    You probably have the heat turned on by now but it is still not too late to check everything for good measure. Is your chimney clean and safe? Do you have enough oil or gas? Do you have pellets if you have a pellet stove? Do you have a backup heat source? Of course it is very important to also check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.

  • 5

    Winterize!

    Pretty much anything with any form of liquid in it that could freeze, needs to be winterized. Boats, jetskis, camps, and ATVs are some of the things you might need to winterize.

  • 6

    Put on the snow tires

    To give your vehicle some extra traction to cruise through Maine's snowy roads, snow tires never hurt. Of course not everyone needs snow tires but they do help. For those who can't afford snow tires, having extra weight in the back of your vehicle sometimes helps. So fill up your trunk with sand or kitty litter!

  • 7

    Be snow removal ready

    Break out the shovels and snowblowers! You don't want to get caught in 4 feet of snow with no shovel. If you are a snow blower owner now is the time to make sure it works. Most snow blowers recommend changing the oil and spark plug once a year, and now would be the time. If you use your snow blower a lot you might want to invest in some warm headphones to keep your ears warm while blocking out some of the sound.

  • 8

    Storm windows and seal up drafts

    Put storm windows on the windows you don't plan to open during the winter months. These will give extra protection from the elements and also keep heat in your home. Check your windows for drafts and try to seal them to keep heat in as well. Home owners with skylights in their homes should make sure these are clear of things like wet leaves and debris that could add weight to the windows.

  • 9

    Prepare power outage emergency supplies

    Remember the ice storm of 1998, when hundreds of Mainers were without power for multiple days surrounded by snow and ice? Something like that could happen again, and for some it did just last year around this time! Things you can do to make sure you are ready for a long term power outage are checking flashlights and batteries to see if they work, have emergency food, water, a charged cell phone, and even extra food for family pets.

  • 10

    Check generators

    It may have been a while since you last fired up the generator so a once over for safety is a good idea. Make sure nothing is loose and the generator is in a safe location. Never run a generator indoors! Don't even use them near open windows. Remember, even spilling gasoline on the outside of the generator while refiling could later cause a fire so be very careful. We want everyone to survive this winter!

More From WQCB Brewer Maine