Winter Weather Preparedness

KEEP AHEAD OF THE STORM by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, and television for the latest winter storm watches, warnings, and advisories.

What to Listen For...

WINTER STORM WATCH:

Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice, are possible within the next day or two. Prepare now!

WINTER STORM WARNING:

Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in your area. Stay indoors!

BLIZZARD WARNING:

Snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chill. Seek refuge immediately!

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY:

Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous. If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life- threatening. The greatest hazard is often to motorists.

FROST/FREEZE WARNING:

Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause significant damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures, people who have homes without heat need to take added precautions.

Winter Precipitation

Snow

FLURRIES - Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that is expected.
SHOWERS - Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is possible.
SQUALLS - Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes region.
BLOWING SNOW - Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
BLIZZARD - Winds over 35 mph with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility to near zero.
 

Sleet

Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
 

Freezing Rain

Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard.
 

What Makes a Winter Storm?

COLD AIR:
below freezing temperatures in the clouds and near the ground are necessary to make snow and/or ice.

MOISTURE:
to form clouds and precipitation. Air blowing across a body of water, such as a large lake or the ocean, is an excellent source of moisture.

LIFT:
something to raise the moist air to form the clouds and cause precipitation. An example of lift is warm air colliding with cold air and being forced to rise over the cold dome. The boundary between the warm and cold air masses is called a front. Another example of lift is air flowing up a mountain side.

Winter's Impact

Storms with Strong Winds

Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines.

Extreme Cold

Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. What constitutes extreme cold and its effect varies across different areas of the United States. In areas unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered "extreme cold." Freezing temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat. In the north, below zero temperatures may be considered as "extreme cold." Long cold spells can cause rivers to freeze, disrupting shipping. Ice jams may form and lead to flooding.

Ice Storms

Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for days while utility companies work to repair the extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

Heavy Snow Storms

Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock down trees and power lines. In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and unprotected livestock may be lost. The cost of snow removal, repairing damages, and loss of business can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.

Winter Deaths

Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The actual threat to you depends on your specific situation. Recent observations indicate the following:

• Related to ice and snow:
  • About 70% occur in automobiles.
  • About 25% are people caught out in the storm.
• Related to exposure to cold:
  • 50% are people over 60 years old.
  • Over 75% are males.
  • About 20% occur in the home.

COLD

FROSTBITE

Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by that tissue being frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas. However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.

HYPOTHERMIA: LOW BODY TEMPERATURE

Warning signs - uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.

Detection - Take the person's temperature. If below 95F (35C),immediately seek medical care! If medical care is not available, begin warming the person slowly. Warm the body core first. If needed, use your own body heat to help. Get the person into dry clothing, and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food; warm broth is better. Do not warm extremities (arms and legs) first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure.

WIND CHILL

The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill.
 

When CAUGHT in a Winter Storm...

OUTSIDE

Find shelter:

• try to stay dry
• cover all exposed parts of the body.

No shelter:

• prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection from the wind.
• build a fire for heat and to attract attention.
• place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.

Do not eat snow: It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.

IN A CAR OR TRUCK

Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat:

• open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.

Make yourself visible to rescuers:

• turn on the dome light at night when running engine.
• tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door.
• raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.

Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.

AT HOME OR IN A BUILDING

Stay inside. When using ALTERNATIVE HEAT from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.:

• use fire safeguards.
• properly ventilate.

No heat:

• close off unneeded rooms.
• stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
• cover windows at night.

Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.

BE PREPARED... Before the Storm Strikes

At home and at work...

Primary concerns are the potential loss of heat, power, telephone service, and a shortage of supplies if storm conditions continue for more than a day.

Have available:

For yourself, you can:

• Check on elderly and disabled people living alone. Make sure they are prepared for winter conditions.
• Stock up on non-alcoholic beverages like tea, coffee, hot chocolate and soup.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency information. These may be your only links to the outside.
• Extra food and water. High energy food, such as dried fruit or candy, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration is best. Get plenty of rest.
• Extra medicine and baby items.
• First-aid supplies.
• Heating fuel. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a severe winter storm.
• Emergency heating source, such as a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.
  • Learn to use properly to prevent a fire.
  • Have proper ventilation.
  • Have your furnace and wall heaters checked by a professional for safety.
  • Check all space heaters and keep them away from walls, curtains, and furniture.
  • If you have a gas heater or any gas appliances, invest in a carbon monoxide detector. (Carbon monoxide kills about 300 people in the U.S. every year.)
• Fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
  • Test units regularly to ensure they are working properly (if need be, replace batteries).

In cars and trucks...
Plan your travel and check the latest weather reports to avoid the storm!

• Fully check and winterize your vehicle before the winter season begins.
• Check the tires, brakes, and battery
• Check the heating and defrosting system
• Check your windshield wipers and keep your washer fluid full.
• Change the anti-freeze, if needed, to protect the engine and radiator from freezing in cold temperatures.
• Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.

  Carry a WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT:

  • blankets/sleeping bags;
  • flashlight with extra batteries;
  • first-aid kit;
  • knife;
  • high-calorie, non-perishable food;
  • extra clothing to keep dry;
  • a large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes;
  • a smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water;
  • sack of sand (or cat litter);
  • shovel;
  • windshield scraper and brush;
  • tool kit;
  • tow rope;
  • booster cables;
  • water container;
  • compass and road maps.
• Try not to travel alone.
• Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.
• Consider carrying a portable NOAA weather radio in your vehicle to keep track of changing weather conditions when you are on the go.

On the farm...

• Move animals to sheltered areas. Shelter belts, properly laid out and oriented, are better protection for cattle than confining shelters, such as sheds.
• Have a water supply available. Most animal deaths in winter storms are from dehydration. Make sure they have a source of water that will not freeze and animals have enough food available for a prolonged cold spell or a snowstorm. 

FAMILY DISASTER PLAN
 

Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan...

I. Gather information about hazards. Contact your local National Weather Service office, emergency management office or civil defense office, and American Red Cross chapter. Find out what type of disasters could occur and how you should respond. Learn your community's warning signals and evacuation plans.

II. Meet with your family to create a plan. Discuss the information you have gathered. Pick two places to meet: a spot right outside your home for an emergency, such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you can't return home. Choose an out-of-state friend as your "family check-in contact" for everyone to call if the family gets separated. Discuss what you would do if advised to evacuate.

III. Implement your plan.

• Post emergency telephone numbers by phones;
• Install safety features in your house, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers,
• Inspect your home for potential hazards (such as items that can move, fall, break, or catch fire) and correct them;
• Have your family learn basic safety measures, such as CPR and first aid; how to use a fire extinguisher; and how and when to turn off water, gas, and electricity in your home;
• Teach children how and when to call 911 or your local Emergency Medical Services number; (6) Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs for at least three days. Assemble a disaster supplies kit with items you may need in case of an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers, such as backpacks or duffle bags. Keep important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller disaster supplies kit in the trunk of your car.

IV. Practice and maintain your plan. Ask questions to make sure your family remembers meeting places, phone numbers, and safety rules. Conduct drills. Test your smoke detectors monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Test and recharge your fire extinguisher(s) according to manufacturer's instructions. Replace stored water and food every six months.