How to Identify a Winter Storm
- Freezing Rain: Rain freezes when hitting ground, icing surfaces, trees, and power lines
- Sleet: Rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground
- Winter Storm Watch: A significant winter storm could occur in your area
- Winter Storm Warning: A significant winter storm is occurring or will soon occur in your area
- Blizzard Warning: A significant, sustained storm with high winds and heavy snow is occurring or will soon occur in you area
How to Prepare for a Winter Storm
- See Emergency Response Plan for general information
- If necessary, purchase :
- Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
- Sand to improve traction while driving
- Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment
- Ensure walls and attic are properly insulated; install storm windows or cover windows with plastic
- Ensure your car is in good condition and has a sufficient amount of antifreeze
- Consider purchasing snow tires or tires with chains and studs
How to Respond to a Winter Storm
- Wear several layers of warm clothing with an outer layer that is tightly woven and water repellent; also wear a hat, mittens, scarves, and boots
- Know the symptoms of hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering; memory loss and disorientation; incoherence and slurred speech; drowsiness and apparent exhaustion
- Get medical help as soon as possible
- Get the victim into a warm room or shelter
- If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it
- Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available
- Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages; do not try to give beverages to an unconcious person
- After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck
- Know the symptoms of frostbite: loss of feeling; white or pale appearance in extremeties (fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose)
- Get medical help as soon as possible
- Get into a warm room
- Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage
- Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water or warm the affected area using body heat
- Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all; this can cause more damage
- Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming
- If you are trapped in a car during a blizzard:
- Pull off the highway if possible
- Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from the radio antenna or window and remain in vehicle unless you can walk to a nearby building
- Run the engine and heater ten minutes every hour to keep warm; while the engine is running, open a window slightly for ventilation
- Maintain body heat by moving around
- Take turns sleeping so someone is awake to look for rescue crews