Winter begins next Tuesday (12/21) and Mayor Craig A. Moe and The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) are passing along some helpful information to get you ready for colder temperatures.
All of these tips were provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To open the links, hold down the CTL key and click on the link.
- With winter approaching, be sure to look through your emergency kit and add supplies specific to winter, such as:
- Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. (Remember that these products can be harmful to dogs, so be sure to choose a non-toxic brand if you or your neighbors have pets.)
- Sand/gravel to improve traction.
- Snow shovels or other snow removal equipment.
- Heating fuel. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, keep a supply of good, dry wood for heating in case you lose power.
- Adequate clothing and blankets to keep warm, including coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, etc.
- Keep your NOAA Weather Radio in your kit to receive broadcast alerts and warnings directly from the NWS for all hazards. You may also sign up in advance to receive notifications from your local emergency services.
- Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do in case of an emergency.
- Before the storm hits, download free smartphone apps, such as those available from FEMA and the American Red Cross, which provide information about finding shelters, providing first aid and seeking assistance for recovery.
- Be prepared to bring your pets/animals inside in the event of a winter storm. Move animals and livestock to a sheltered area with non-frozen drinking water.
