Stocked Up and Safe at Home

· Storm-resistant windows and doors are particularly good in homes near the water or in areas susceptible to rough weather. DuPont makes a shatter-resistant glass product, SentryGlas, for windows and doors. It cracks but doesn't shatter. The company said the cost is 25 to 100 percent above the price of a regular window, depending on size and strength.

· Chain saws are handy after storms to clear away fallen trees, brush, limbs and other materials. Prices generally range from about $50 to $300.

· Backup propane is recommended to run the grill or keep the generator going.

· Sump pumps are a wise investment for homes with basements that are prone to flooding. The cost of the pump ranges from about $85 to $470, but installation can vary even more dramatically, depending on the amount of work involved.

· Safe rooms offer shelter in dangerous times. Some people rely on a spot in the basement for safety. But others, such as Jackie St. Clair of St. Mary's County, have gone a step further by building concrete safe rooms.

Along those lines, DuPont has come out with a crush-resistant Kevlar safe room, made of the same fiber used in bullet-resistant vests. The room, which can be installed on a concrete floor in the basement or ground floor, is designed to withstand crushing weight equivalent to a fully loaded, 70,000-pound tractor-trailer. The rooms come in different sizes. A 4-by-6-foot room, for example, costs about $6,000, including installation.

Simple Supplies

When the storm moves in, when the electricity goes out, when the snow piles high, it's a good idea to have a supply of the essentials.

· Water is a big must. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recommends storing at least one gallon of bottled water per person per day for three days. The International Bottled Water Association suggests storing water at room temperature and away from solvents and chemicals such as paint thinner. If you store tap water in containers, it recommends first rinsing them out with a diluted chlorine solution.

· Canned goods and freeze-dried foods should be stored in dry places or sealed containers.

· A survival kit should be stored in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Inside, have a flashlight, a battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, duct tape, garbage bags, work gloves, rope, disinfectant, and a first-aid kit. It's also good to have a plug-in telephone with a cord -- cordless phones won't work when the power goes out, and cellphone systems may be overloaded in emergencies.