Mahoning Valley - As cold weather moves into the Mahoning Valley, you'll want to ensure your home is ready to handle the drop in temperature.

AAA revealed some tips to maintain your property during cold strikes to reduce the risk of winter damage.

The following are just some tips you can use to get your home ready for the frigid cold:

• Locate water shutoff valves in case of an emergency
• Let faucets drip a little bit to prevent freezing pipes
• Remove hoses from exterior faucets
• Repair or replace weather stripping around windows, doors, vents, etc
• Keep bathroom and kitchen cabinet doors open to let warm air around pipes
• Close wood-burning fireplace flue dampers when not in use
• Use caulk or insulation to seal cracks and holes in exterior walls

Homeowners' insurance covers some types of winter damage. A standard policy usually covers roof collapses or damage due to snow and ice from a storm, and most policies also cover damage caused by burst pipes.

When it comes to electricity, FirstEnergy and AEP said they're ready to handle issues caused by the upcoming winter storm.

Both companies say they have crews ready to roll if an outage happens.

FirstEnergy said they have sister utilities and contractors that they can also send to the hardest-hit areas.

It's also important to have an emergency kit ready just in case of an extended outage.

Some items you should include in an emergency kit are:

• Non-perishable food
• Water
• Flashlights and new batteries
• Battery-powered radio
• First aid kit
• Medications
• Fully charged portable charges