Ways to be prepared for winter weather helpful Items from FEMA
Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of freezing weather and winter storms. Listen for emergency information and alerts.
Be prepared for winter weather at home, at work and in your car. Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. Keep a full tank of gas
Build an Emergency Kit https://www.ready.gov/kit
Build a car kit https://www.ready.gov/car
- Include enough food, water, meds & anything used daily in your emergency kit to last for at least 72 hours
Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups. Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Remember the needs of your pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
- Use a carbon monoxide alarm.
- Use heating devices safely.
- Use only heating devices designed to heat your home. Do not use a cooking stove or outdoor heater inside
- Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.
- Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
- Reduce the risk of a heart attack by avoiding overexertion when shoveling snow and walking in the snow.
Heating Safety
- Shivering, memory loss, and slurred speech signs of hypothermia. Learn the other signs at: www.cdc.gov/winter-weather/about/
- Staying warm with a space heater? Make sure it has an auto shut-off in case it tips over. Check on family/friends today
- Winter fires can be deadly. When using your fireplace always keep a metal or heat tempered screen around it to stay safe.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater.
- Watch this short video from @usfa to learn how to prevent portable heater fires in your home this winter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AMQ1ASnmNU
- If you’re running a portable generator, you need to have a working carbon monoxide alarm in your home.
- #WinterReady Tip: NEVER use a generator, camp stove, charcoal grill, gasoline or propane heater indoors.
- NEVER heat a home by using the stovetop or oven. It increases the risk of burns, fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Keep generators outside at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents to avoid accidental CO poisoning.
- Wear layered clothing and use blankets to stay warm during a #WinterStorm.
Pets
- #WinterReady Tip: Bring your furry friends inside when temperatures take a dip! More pet prep tips: www.ready.gov/pets
- Tip: Wipe dog’s paws after each trip outside. Ice-melting chemicals or rock salt can cause irritation, sickness or be fatal #WinterReady
- #WinterReady Tip: Bring your furry friends inside when temperatures take a dip! More pet prep tips: www.ready.gov/pets
- Your pet may think antifreeze is sweet, but it can be deadly. Find out more: www.humanesociety.org/resources/five-ways-protect-pets-winter