BEFORE
Be familiar with winter storm warning messages.
(See Winter Storm Watches and Warnings.)
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.
Have safe emergency heating equipment available.
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.
Have disaster supplies on hand, in case the power goes out.
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.
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. A strong wind combined with a
temperature of just below freezing can have the same effect as a still air
temperature about 35 degrees colder.
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 55 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 help. 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.