Winter Weather Awareness - Preparing For The Storm

...WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS...

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...IN YOUR VEHICLE...
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EXTRA SUPPLIES IN YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE THE STORM. 
YOU/LL WANT TO HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES...FLASHLIGHTS...FOOD...WATER... 
MEDICATION...FIRST AID SUPPLIES...BLANKETS... AND WARM CLOTHES. STAY 
TUNED TO YOUR WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL RADIO FOR UPDATED INFORMATION 
AND EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS.

DURING A WINTER STORM...ONLY LEAVE YOUR HOME IN THE EVENT OF AN 
EMERGENCY. IF YOU CAN NO LONGER OPERATE YOUR VEHICLE PULL OFF THE 
ROAD...ACTIVATE YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS...AND HANG A DISTRESS FLAG FROM 
THE ANTENNA OR WINDOW. REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE TO STAY SAFE AND TO 
MAKE IT EASIER FOR RESCUERS TO FIND YOU. ALSO...REMEMBER TO KEEP THE 
EXHAUST PIPE FREE OF SNOW TO PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

BE COURTEOUS OF SNOW PLOWERS. REMOVE PARKED VEHICLES FROM ROADS THAT 
NEED TO BE PLOWED. WHEN PASSING A SNOW PLOW TRUCK...BE EXTRA CAREFUL 
AND GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM TO OPERATE THE TRUCK.

...AT YOUR HOME...
THE BEST DEFENSE AGAINST SEVERE WINTER WEATHER IS PREPAREDNESS. 
START PREPARING NOW FOR THE DANGEROUS ICE AND COLD THAT WILL        
PREVAIL IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. KEEP ENOUGH SUPPLIES IN YOUR HOME 
TO MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.

STAY INFORMED OF DEVELOPING WEATHER CONDITIONS BY CHECKING ONLINE OR 
BY LISTENING TO YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...COMMERCIAL RADIO...OR 
TELEVISION. AVOID OVEREXERTION...SUCH AS SHOVELING HEAVY SNOW OR 
WALKING IN DEEP SNOW. THE STRAIN FROM THE COLD AND HARD LABOR COULD 
CAUSE A HEART ATTACK.

...OUTDOORS...
WEAR LOOSE...LIGHT-WEIGHT...WARM CLOTHING IN SEVERAL LAYERS.        
THIS HELPS AS TRAPPED AIR ACTS AS AN INSULATOR. ALSO...LAYERS CAN BE 
REMOVED TO AVOID PERSPIRATION AND SUBSEQUENT CHILL. OUTER GARMENTS 
SHOULD BE WATER REPELLENT AND REMEMBER TO ALWAYS WEAR A HAT...AS 40 
PERCENT OF YOUR BODY HEAT CAN BE LOST FROM YOUR HEAD.

...LIVESTOCK AND PETS...
PROVIDE LIVESTOCK A SUITABLE SHELTER FROM THE WIND AND PRECIPITATION 
...AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A GOOD SUPPLY OF FRESH WATER AND FOOD.

ALSO...REMEMBER TO PROTECT YOUR PETS FROM THE ELEMENTS. THEY ARE 
SUSCEPTIBLE TO FROSTBITE TOO. GIVE THEM A GOOD SHELTER AND FRESH 
FOOD AND WATER. BETTER YET...BRING YOUR DOG OR CAT INDOORS DURING 
THE WINTER SEASON IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WINTER WEATHER...VISIT...

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/

https://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=winter-wx-awareness