Winter Storm Information and Preparation Tips
GENERALLY...THE FIRST WINTER STORM OF THE SEASON PRESENTS MANY
PROBLEMS DUE TO LACK OF PREPAREDNESS AND UNFAMILIARITY TO WINTER
DRIVING.
MOST DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO WINTER STORMS ARE INDIRECTLY RELATED TO
THE STORM ITSELF. FATALITIES ARE PRIMARILY DUE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
ON ICY ROADS...HEART ATTACKS WHILE SHOVELING SNOW...AND HYPOTHERMIA
FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE WIND AND COLD. ...PREPARATIONS BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES... - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FOOD ON HAND...
INCLUDING FOOD THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE COOKING SHOULD THE POWER
FAIL. HAVE PLENTY OF BOTTLED WATER ON HAND AS WELL.
- HAVE A FRESH SUPPLY OF BATTERIES FOR YOUR PORTABLE RADIO AND
FLASHLIGHTS.
- CHECK TO SEE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO LAST THROUGHOUT THE STORM
IN CASE FUEL DELIVERY IS DELAYED FOR A FEW DAYS. SHOULD THE
POWER GO OUT FOR SEVERAL HOURS...YOU WILL NEED AN ALTERNATE
HEATING SOURCE AND AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY OF FUEL.
- KEEP A FULLY STOCKED FIRST AID KIT.
- MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLE IS FULLY WINTERIZED. BE SURE YOU HAVE A
FULL TANK OF GAS...YOUR BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED AND YOUR WIPER
BLADES ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. CHECK THE CONDITION OF YOUR
SNOW TIRES.
- PUT YOUR WINTER WEATHER SURVIVAL KIT IN THE TRUNK. YOUR KIT SHOULD
INCLUDE BLANKETS...WINTER ATTIRE...FLARES...A SHOVEL...BAG OF
SAND...TIRE CHAINS...A FLASHLIGHT...WINDSHIELD SCRAPER AND BOOSTER
CABLES. ...DURING THE WINTER STORM... - DO NOT VENTURE OUT UNLESS YOU HAVE TO.
- MANY HEATING SYSTEMS DO NOT WORK WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. IF THE POWER
FAILS AND YOU MUST USE AN ALTERNATE MEANS TO STAY WARM...USE
APPROPRIATE FIRE SAFEGUARDS. BE SURE THERE IS ADEQUATE VENTILATION
SINCE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IS A REAL DANGER.
- CONSERVE THE HEAT YOU DO HAVE. CLOSE OFF UNUSED ROOMS. STUFF TOWELS
OR RAGS IN CRACKS UNDER DOORS. COVER WINDOWS AT NIGHT.
- WHEN YOU ARE OUTSIDE...DRESS IN SEVERAL LAYERS OF LOOSE FITTING...
LIGHT WEIGHT WARM CLOTHING THAT IS WATER REPELLENT. KEEP YOUR
HEAD...HANDS AND FEET WARM AND DRY TO HELP PREVENT FROSTBITE.
- REMEMBER TO CHECK ON FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS.
- AVOID UNNECESSARY TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...LET SOMEONE KNOW
YOUR TIMETABLE AND THE ROUTE YOU WILL USE.
- IF YOU GET STUCK AND BECOME STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE TO RESCUERS. TIE A BRIGHTLY COLORED CLOTH
TO YOUR RADIO ANTENNA OR DOOR. RUN THE MOTOR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES
EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING...OPEN THE
WINDOW SLIGHTLY AND MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST PIPE IS NOT BLOCKED.
EXERCISE FROM TIME TO TIME TO KEEP BLOOD CIRCULATING AND TO KEEP
WARM. ...WHEN THE STORM HAS ENDED... - AVOID OVEREXERTION WHEN SHOVELING HEAVY SNOW...OR WALKING. THE
STRAIN FROM THE COLD AND HARD WORK MAY BRING ON A HEART ATTACK.
- IF YOUR SNOWBLOWER GETS CLOGGED...NEVER USE YOUR HANDS TO FREE
THE OBSTRUCTION...BUT RATHER USE A LONG STICK OR BROOM HANDLE.
- STAY AWAY FROM ANY DOWNED ELECTRICAL WIRES.
- HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE WELL AFTER THE STORM HAS
ENDED...USE CAUTION IF YOU MUST TRAVEL.
UNDERSTANDING WINTER WEATHER TERMS KEEP ALERT FOR WINTER WEATHER WARNINGS...WATCHES AND ADVISORIES...
AS WELL AS OTHER TERMS USED BY YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KEEP AHEAD OF LIFE-THREATENING WINTER WEATHER THIS SEASON.
LEARN WHAT THE WEATHER TERMS MEAN...AND HOW YOU SHOULD ACT IN
RESPONSE TO THEM. A "WINTER STORM WATCH" MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER MAY AFFECT
YOUR AREA. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WEATHER FORECASTS...STATEMENTS
AND ADVISORIES...AND BE READY TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. BY DEFINITION...A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THAT 7 OR MORE INCHES
OF SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE DURING A 24 HOUR PERIOD. A WINTER STORM
WATCH MAY ALSO BE ISSUED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...
A SIGNIFICANT ICE STORM OR A COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. WHEN A "WINTER STORM WARNING" IS ISSUED...SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE IMMINENT...AND MAY POSE A THREAT TO LIFE OR PROPERTY. "BLIZZARD WARNINGS" ARE ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS...OR
FREQUENT GUSTS OF AT LEAST 35 MILES PER HOUR...ACCOMPANY
CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW...AND THE
VISIBILITY IS OFTEN LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE. "HIGH WIND WARNINGS" ARE ISSUED WHEN WINDS OF AT LEAST 40 MILES AN
HOUR ARE EXPECTED TO LAST FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR OR GUSTS OF AT
LEAST 58 MILES AN HOUR MAY OCCUR. "WIND CHILL WARNINGS" ARE ISSUED WHEN WIND CHILLS OF MINUS 40
DEGREES OR LOWER ARE IMMINENT. WIND CHILL ADVISORIES APPLY TO WIND
CHILLS OF -25 TO -40 DEGREES. IN ADDITON TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS..YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
USES OTHER TERMS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC TO THE THREAT OF
HAZARDOUS WEATHER. "FREEZING RAIN OR FREEZING DRIZZLE" INDICATES RAIN OR DRIZZLE THAT
FREEZES AS IT STRIKES THE GROUND AND OTHER SURFACES AND FORMS
A COATING OF ICE. "SNOW SQUALLS" ARE BRIEF...BUT INTENSE PERIODS OF SNOW...FREQUENTLY
ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG AND GUSTY WINDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES WILL HIGHLIGHT DIFFICULT WEATHER CONDITIONS
THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON MOTORISTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES OR PUBLIC
EVENTS.
THESE ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED FOR SNOW, BLOWING SNOW, FREEZING RAIN
OR DRIZZLE, BLOWING SNOW, FOG AND WIND CHILL. "WIND CHILL" IS THE EFFECT OF WIND AND TEMPERATURES ON THE RATE
OF HEAT LOSS TO THE HUMAN BODY. IT INDICATES THE DANGER OF
EXPOSURE TO THE MIXTURE OF WINDS AND COLD WEATHER. KEEP POSTED ON THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION. LISTEN TO YOUR
FAVORITE RADIO OR TV STATION...OR CABLE TV...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND
KEEP ALERT FOR THESE WINTER WEATHER TERMS FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE.
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