The National Weather Service and local weather authorities are predicting extreme cold weather and significant snowfall this weekend for our area and the region. Sunday is predicted to be very wintery with substantial snowfall and/or ice. Ice could interrupt electrical service.
Travel Preparedness:
Avoid unnecessary travel, if possible, on Sunday. If traveling, check on road/weather conditions before setting out and have a winter kit (blankets, hat/gloves, flashlight, charged phone, water/snacks, anti-kid material, small shovel, first aid kit, etc.) in your vehicle. Drive slowly and allow extra following and stopping distance on bad roads. Know that substantial and sustained snowfall will be a challenge for snowplow crews. Four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles are recommended in severe snowy weather for more traction. Make sure your tires are good winter tires. Also keep in mind that older vehicle batteries tend to fail in extreme cold weather. Drive with your headlamps and taillights fully on for better visibility in heavy snowfall during daylight. Make sure you have a full gas/fuel tank and/or electrical charge. If you are involved in a crash, expect possible emergency response delays during extremely bad conditions. To avoid secondary crashes at accident scenes, move your vehicle, if drivable, off the roadway as much as possible and activate four-way flashers. Stand off the road as much as possible to avoid being struck by passing vehicles or sliding/skidding vehicles.
Home Preparedness:
Portable heaters should only be used in accordance with the manufacturer directions. Use only portable heaters in your home that are designed for indoor use. Do not use portable heaters near combustible materials (curtains, blankets, fuel, etc.). Make sure your furnace is in good working order. Open kitchen or bathroom cabinet doors to expose water pipes that have a history of freezing. Bring pets indoors or provide them adequate outside shelter. Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have good batteries and are in working order. Have bottled water and food on hand for the weekend. Consider any medical supply needs of the people in your home. Shoveling heavy snow can be taxing – Know your health limits. Ask a neighbor for help if needed. Keep your cell phone charged at all times. Check on your neighbors.
