A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms.
Before:
- familiar with winter storm warning messages.
- Service snow removal equipment and have rock salt on hand to melt ice on walkways and kitty litter to generate temporary traction.
- Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Winterize your home:
- Insulate walls and attic.
- Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
- Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside.
Have safe emergency heating equipment available:
- Fireplace with ample supply of wood
- Small, well-vented, wood, coal, or camp stove with fuel
- Portable space heaters or kerosene heaters (See Kerosene Heaters.)
- Install and check smoke detectors.
- Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on winter storms.
Keep pipes from freezing:
- Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.
- Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture.
- Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
- Know how to shut off water valves.
Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out:
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
- First aid kit
- One-week supply of food (include items that do not require refrigeration or cooking in case the power is shut off)
- Nonelectric can opener
- One-week supply of essential prescription medications.
- Extra blankets and sleeping bags
- Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type)
Develop an emergency communication plan:
- In case family members are separated from one another during a winter storm (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), have a plan for getting back together.
- Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact."
- After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance.
- Make sure everyone knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.
- Make sure that all family members know how to respond after a severe winter storm.
- Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department, and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.
Kerosene Heaters:
- Check with your local fire department on the legality of using kerosene heaters in your community.
- Use only the correct fuel for your unit and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Refuel outdoors only, and only when cool.
- Keep your kerosene heater at least 3 feet away from furniture and other flammable objects.
During - If Indoors:
- Stay indoors and dress warmly.
- Conserve fuel.
- Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night.
- Close off unused rooms.
- If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags.
- Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
- Listen to the radio or television to get the latest information.
During - If Outdoors:
- Dress warmly
- Wear loose-fitting, layered, light-weight clothing
- Layers can be removed to prevent perspiration and chill
- Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellant
- Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth when they touch each other
- Stretch before you go out
- If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body
- Also take frequent breaks
- Cover your mouth
- Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors
- Try not to speak unless absolutely necessary
- Avoid overexertion
- Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart
- Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse
- Be aware of symptoms of dehydration
- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia
- Keep dry
- Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat
- Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly
- Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance--infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities
Wind Chill:
- "Wind chill" is a calculation of how cold it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are combined.
- On November 1, 2001, the National Weather Service (NWS) implemented a replacement Wind Chill Temperature (WCT) index for the 2001/2002 winter season. The reason for the change was to improve upon the current WCT Index which was based on the 1945 Siple and Passel Index.
- For more on the new index, please visit the NWS web site.
Winter Storm Watches and Warnings:
- A winter storm watch indicates that severe winter weather may affect your area.
- A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter weather conditions are definitely on the way.
- A blizzard warning means that large amounts of falling or blowing snow and sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour are expected for several hours.
Frostbite and Hypothermia:
- Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold exposure that can permanently damage its victims.
- A loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite.
- Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
- If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance.
- Warm the person's trunk first.
- Use your own body heat to
- Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure.
- Put person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket.
- Never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim something with caffeine in it (like coffee or tea) or alcohol.
- Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effects the cold has on the body.
- Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of cold body temperatures.
Mitigation:
- Mitigation includes any activities that prevent an emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or lessen the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies.
- Investing in preventive mitigation steps now such as purchasing a flood insurance policy and installing storm windows will help reduce the impact of winter storms in the future.
- For more information on mitigation, contact your local emergency management office.