While 10% of Cape Cod is still without electrical power, we are picking ourselves up from a huge blizzard. Many of us were prepared, and some were not. Some of us got lucky and never experienced a power outage. Most of Cape Cod lost power for at least 24 hours. It certainly makes one grateful for things we generally take for granted, like electricity and heat! While the cleanup continues, here’s a list of 14 essential items to have on hand for the next big storm (blizzard or hurricane!).

14 Blizzard Essentials for your Cape Cod home

The holidays are a great time to enjoy time by a warm fire. However, wood burning fireplaces can be extremely dangerous, and can result in a house fire, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Here are some tips to ensure safe use of your fireplace this holiday season.

* Never leave a burning fireplace unattended.
* Have your chimney swept annually, and inspected by a licensed chimney sweep every two years.
* Properly start your fire, and use only dry hardwoods to prevent creosote build-up.
* Leave flue open overnight, even if you think the fire is out. Carbon Monoxide can continue to build and most be exhausted out of the house.
* Ensure Carbon Monoxide detectors are nearby, and functioning.
* Keep roof area and gutters free of leaves, and pine needles, as embers could ignite them.
* Here is a good article covering more details about safe use of your fireplace from Freshome.com: How To Enjoy Your Fireplace Safely

And lastly, from all of us here at REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder, we hope you have a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season!