Feds bracing for the big snowstorm

WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama held a phone call with DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and FEMA Director Craig Fugate to discuss how the federal government is preparing for this week's massive snowstorm/blizzard. More than 38 states have been issued watches, warnings and advisories for the storm that has begun today in much of the Midwest. The three officials talked about the  coordination of the federal emergency response deployment and how FEMA has pre-positioned things like water, blankets, generators, and meals so that they can quickly be dispersed to areas that need them the most.

FEMA Director Craig Fugate called this storm much more difficult and dangerous than other storms. "A lot of people will always talk about the last storm but this wasn't going to be a storm that many people experienced if they had been in the area in the last 20-30 years. This is a much bigger storm, much more dangerous conditions, impacting a lot more areas in the country simultaneously," Fugate said in an interview with CNN White House Correspondent Dan Lothian.

According to a readout from the White House, the president "stressed the need to be prepared for all scenarios, including significant power outages across the country, and that state and federal agencies need to work closely to support affected communities."

While the storm is expected to mostly miss the DC area, the president also encouraged those Americans in the storm's path to continue to take steps to be prepared.  In other words, go out and buy the toilet paper, milk, bread, and other supplies that you're going to need.