 |
Winter Info |
About
Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few
hours to a blizzard with blinding,
wind-driven snow that lasts for several
days. Some winter storms are large enough to
affect several states, while others affect
only a single community. Many winter storms
are accompanied by dangerously low
temperatures and sometimes by strong winds,
icing, sleet and freezing rain.
Regardless of the severity
of a winter storm, you should be prepared in
order to remain safe during these events.
Winter Storm Outlook - Winter storm conditions are
possible in the next 2 to 5 days.
Winter Weather
Advisory - Winter weather conditions
are expected to cause significant
inconveniences and may be hazardous.
When caution is used, these situations
should not be life threatening.
Winter Storm Watch -
Winter storm conditions are possible
within the next 36 to 48 hours. People
in a watch area should review their
winter storm plans and stay informed
about weather conditions.
Winter Storm Warning
- Life-threatening, severe winter
conditions have begun or will begin
within 24 hours. People in a warning
area should take precautions
immediately.
Prepare
- Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full. A full tank will keep the fuel line from freezing.
- Insulate your home by installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic from the inside to keep cold air out.
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year.
- If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
- Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
- Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
- Flashlight
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
- Extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, etc.)
- Multi-purpose tool
- Sanitation and personal hygiene items
- Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
- Cell phone with chargers
- Family and emergency contact information
- Extra cash
- Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
- Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
- Tools/supplies for securing your home
- Sand, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to make walkways and steps less slippery
- Warm coats, gloves or mittens, hats, boots and extra blankets and warm clothing for all household members
- Ample alternate heating methods such as fireplaces or wood- or coal-burning stoves
Respond During
- Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information on snow storms and blizzards from the National Weather Service (NWS).
- Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure that their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.
- Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside and kept clear.
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
- Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power or heat during periods of extreme cold.
- Avoid driving when conditions include sleet, freezing rain or drizzle, snow or dense fog. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
- Before tackling strenuous tasks in cold temperatures, consider your physical condition, the weather factors and the nature of the task.
- Protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible.
- Help people who require special assistance such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Locate unit away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
- The primary hazards to avoid when using alternate sources for electricity, heating or cooking are carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shock and fire.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
- If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door.
- Call for help from the fresh air location and remain there until emergency personnel arrive to assist you.
- Frostbite and hypothermia are two dangerous and potentially life-threatening emergencies. Learn how to care for these emergencies by taking a first aid class.
Prepare
-
Winterize
your
vehicle
and
keep
the
gas
tank
full.
A
full
tank
will
keep
the
fuel
line
from
freezing.
-
Insulate
your
home
by
installing
storm
windows
or
covering
windows
with
plastic
from
the
inside
to
keep
cold
air
out.
-
Maintain
heating
equipment
and
chimneys
by
having
them
cleaned
and
inspected
every
year.
-
If
you
will
be
going
away
during
cold
weather,
leave
the
heat
on
in
your
home,
set
to a
temperature
no
lower
than
55°
F.
-
Water—at
least
a
3-day
supply;
one
gallon
per
person
per
day
-
Food—at
least
a
3-day
supply
of
non-perishable,
easy-to-prepare
food
-
Flashlight
-
Battery-powered
or
hand-crank
radio
(NOAA
Weather
Radio,
if
possible)
-
Extra
batteries
-
First
aid
kit
-
Medications
(7-day
supply)
and
medical
items
(hearing
aids
with
extra
batteries,
glasses,
contact
lenses,
syringes,
etc.)
-
Multi-purpose
tool
-
Sanitation
and
personal
hygiene
items
-
Copies
of
personal
documents
(medication
list
and
pertinent
medical
information,
proof
of
address,
deed/lease
to
home,
passports,
birth
certificates,
insurance
policies)
-
Cell
phone
with
chargers
-
Family
and
emergency
contact
information
-
Extra
cash
-
Baby
supplies
(bottles,
formula,
baby
food,
diapers)
-
Pet
supplies
(collar,
leash,
ID,
food,
carrier,
bowl)
-
Tools/supplies
for
securing
your
home
-
Sand,
rock
salt
or
non-clumping
kitty
litter
to
make
walkways
and
steps
less
slippery
-
Warm
coats,
gloves
or
mittens,
hats,
boots
and
extra
blankets
and
warm
clothing
for
all
household
members
-
Ample
alternate
heating
methods
such
as
fireplaces
or
wood-
or
coal-burning
stoves
Winter weather can be hard on all of us. It can be
particularly difficult
on our pets that rely on
us for their wellbeing,
especially for outdoor
dogs and cats. To help
keep your entire family
safe and warm, the
American Red Cross has
winter safety reminders
for both you and your
pets.
- If possible, bring
your pets inside during
cold winter weather.
Move other animals or
livestock to sheltered
areas and make sure they
have access to
non-frozen drinking
water.
- If the animals are
outside, make sure their
access to food and water
is not blocked by snow
drifts, ice or other
obstacles.
If pets cannot come
indoors, make sure they
are protected by a dry,
draft-free enclosure
large enough to allow
them to sit and lie
down, but small enough
to hold in the pet’s
body heat. Raise the
floor a few inches off
the ground and cover it
with cedar shavings or
straw. Turn the
enclosure away from the
wind and cover the
doorway with waterproof
burlap or heavy plastic.
Salt and other
chemicals used to melt
snow and ice can
irritate a pet’s paws.
Wipe their paws with a
damp towel before your
pet licks them and
irritates their mouth.
Antifreeze is a
deadly poison. Wipe up
spills and store
antifreeze out of reach.
This site was last updated
Saturday, December 31, 2022 11:01:36 AM By: Barney Paytes III ©® |
