Are you ready?
Review this nine-day blizzard preparedness guide to see if you’ve got what it takes to help survive in an extreme winter weather event.
Day 1: Understand winter storm “advisories” vs. “warnings”
Learn to decode key forecast terms to tell hype from threat. An “advisory,” according to the NOAA National Weather Service, implies the weather will be an inconvenience, but manageable with proper precautions. “When a Winter Storm Warning is issued, it’s serious,” says Sean Sublette, a meteorologist with Climate Matters, an independent climate research group. “A ‘warning’ implies a threat to life and property if no precautions are taken.”
Blizzards, by definition, are characterized by heavy or blowing snow, sustained winds in excess of 35 mph and visibility less than a quarter mile for at least three hours, according to the National Weather Service.
Day 2: Identify your regional risks
The Great Plains, Great Lakes region and Northeastern states are more prone to blizzard than other parts of the country, and areas in “Blizzard Alley” — stretching from the Dakotas and western Minnesota to Iowa, Nebraska, southeast Wyoming and eastern Colorado — are affected most, according to a study of U.S. blizzards from 1959 to 2000, according to the NO
But blizzards don’t always stay within bounds. In 2015’s Winter Storm Jonas, 25 people from New York to Kentucky died. The lesson? If you live on the border of blizzard-prone areas, storm tracking is vital when forecasts predict winter storm warnings nearby, says Jeff Schlegelmilch, deputy director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP). The National Weather Prediction Service Winter Weather Forecasts shows how vulnerable your area is to blizzards.
Day 3: Plan for a prolonged power outage
Living without electricity for days, or even weeks, can be fairly typical with winter storms due to driving winds and snow and ice piling up on power lines. Schlegelmilch shares these key points:
· Layer up. You may be without heat if you have an electrical heating system. Collect extra blankets and warm clothes to have on hand.
· Use caution with a generator. Keep generators outside, away from your house. “We see a lot of carbon monoxide poisonings after blizzards,” says Schlegelmilch.
· Develop a Plan B for medical appliances. For people dependent on machines like oxygen concentrators, the loss of power is potentially life-threatening. Contact your local Emergency Management Agency or the Red Cross, to make sure they can support medical appliances.
Day 4: Know the signs of and First Aid for extreme cold health emergencies
“Hypothermia and frostbite are big issues, especially if it’s very cold and windy after a blizzard,” says Schlegelmilch. Frostbite occurs when skin and body tissue freezes and turns pale or bright red and feels cold, hard or waxy, according to the Mayo Clinic, and signs of hypothermia — a dangerously low body temperature — can include:
- Uncontrollable shivering
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Clumisness/lack of coordination
- Low energy or drowsiness
- Confusion or memory loss
- Bright red, cold skin (particularly in infants)
If you can’t get to a hospital, focus on heating the victim’s core body temperature, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you’re stranded outside, shield the victim from wind, particularly the neck, head, and areas most affected by frostbite: fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks, and chin. Remove wet clothing immediately and replace with warm and/or dry clothing.
Day 5: Practice a water turnoff
One frozen, burst pipe running at four to eight gallons a minute can do tens of thousands of dollars in damage, says Glenn Gallas, vice president of operations at Mr. Rooter professional plumbing service. “You’re looking at an extremely expensive home disaster.”
Locate the water shut-off valve in your home and label it. This valve is typically located in the basement. Practice turning the valve off clockwise by hand, which you will need to do in an emergency if your pipes burst. In rare cases, if your water valve is located outside the home, you may need to use a hex key at the meter box.
Day 6: Stock your car with supplies
In January 2016, hundreds of motorists were stranded on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for more than 16 hours. “Depending on the temperature of the pavement and the air during a snowstorm, a driver can get trapped in less than an hour,” says Sublette.
Beyond a typical kit with flares and a First Aid kit, Schlegelmilch says your winter car worst-case-scenario kit should include:
· A small shovel
· Sand, salt or cat litter to give your wheels traction
· An invertor powered by your car battery. This should last 30 minutes to an hour. Let your engine run 10 minutes to recharge the battery.
· Extra clothing layers
If you’re stranded and snow is accumulating quickly, remember to keep snow away from your tailpipe to prevent a carbon monoxide build-up.
Day 7: Shop for a week’s meals
The general rule of thumb in disaster preparation: have at least a three-day food supply for everyone in your household, including pets. For major snowstorms, Schlegelmilch recommends stocking up for a full week. “I remember one storm where the snow was higher than the standard plows,” says Schlegelmilch. “Some roads didn’t get cleared for a week.”
Your disaster grocery list should include non-perishable nutritious items that are easy to eat such as dried fruit; proteins like canned tuna, beans and nut butters; and shelf-stable (meaning powdered or boxed) milk.
Day 8: Limit your home’s vulnerability
Survey your house for zones vulnerable to heavy, wet snow accumulation, which can cause structures to collapse. Anything with a flat roof (think: carport or porch) is at particular risk and should be cleared first when snow begins to pile up. J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman home improvement service, cautions against shoveling from a ladder or the roof itself, where you can easily slip and fall. Instead, consider using a telescoping plastic-edged snow rake with your feet firmly planted on the ground and focus on removing excess weight (versus clearing every bit of snow) or hire a professional to assist.
More home improvement recommendations from Schlegelmilch:
* Locate and label the outside vent to your heating system so you can clear away snow buildup, which can block the exhaust pipe lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
* Have a professional trim branches near power lines
Day 9: Build a community network
Whether you live in a rural or urban environment, develop a plan with your neighbors to check in on each other. In a rural area, that might mean bringing the truly isolated members into town before a storm. In the city, identify elderly or medically fragile neighbors. “In any disaster, it really comes down to neighbor helping neighbor,” says Schlegelmilch. “At its most basic, they might have peanut butter and you may have jelly.”
By Margaret Heidenry
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For more general tips and tricks of preparedness, contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or by email HERE
