Winter Weather Tips

Protect Yourself

• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Most of your body heat is lost through your head. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Dress in warm layers so you can remove items if you get too warm.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to help avoid hypothermia or frostbite by keeping your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids such as hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if you believe hypothermia or frostbite is possible.

Protect Your Home

• Be careful with candles. Do not use candles for lighting if the power goes out. Use flashlights only.
  Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood; never burn paper or pine boughs.
• Use generators correctly. If you have a portable generator and the power goes out, always plan to keep the generator outdoors. Never operate it inside, including the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
• Connecting a cord from the generator to a point on the permanent wiring system and back-feeding power to your home is an unsafe method to supply a building with power.
• Prevent frozen pipes. Open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Let the cold water drip at a trickle from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature.
• Check smoke alarms. Make sure alarms are working properly and replace batteries as necessary.
• Don't overload your electrical outlets. Be careful of extension cords that present hazardous walkways. 

  If You Live in a Flood-Prone Area

• Fill bathtubs, sinks and plastic bottles with clean water. Water may become contaminated or service may be interrupted.
• Bring outdoor furniture, etc., indoors. Unsecured items may be swept away and damaged by flood waters.
• Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home. If flood waters affect your home, higher floors are less likely to receive damage.
• If you are instructed by local authorities, turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve. In some areas, local authorities may advise you to turn off utilities to prevent further damage to homes and the community.
• Get your preassembled disaster supplies ready. You may need to act quickly. Having your supplies ready will save time.
• Fill your car's gas tank in case an evacuation notice is issued. If electric power is cut off, gas stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days.
• Be prepared to evacuate. Local officials may ask you to leave if they truly feel your home is at risk from flood waters.

  Flood Safety Tips

• Listen continuously to an NOAA Weather Radio or a portable, battery-powered radio (or television) for updated emergency information. Local stations provide you with the best advice for your particular situation.
• Be alert to signs of flooding. A warning means a flood is imminent or is happening in the area.
• If you live in a flood-prone area or think you are at risk, evacuate immediately. Move quickly to higher ground. Save yourself, not your belongings. The most important thing is your safety.
• Follow the instructions and advice of local authorities. Local authorities are the most informed about affected areas. They will best be able to tell you areas to avoid.
• If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. Evacuation is much simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep for vehicles to drive through.
• Follow recommended evacuation routes. Shortcuts or alternate, non-recommended routes may be blocked or damaged by flood waters.
• Leave early enough to avoid being marooned by flooded roads. Delaying too long may allow all escape routes to become blocked.
• Stay out of areas subject to flooding. Dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc., can become filled with water.
• If outdoors, climb to high ground and stay there. Move away from dangerous flood waters.
• If you come  upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, stop, turn around, and go another way.
• Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. Most flood fatalities are caused by people attempting to drive through water, or people playing in high water. If it is moving swiftly, even water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.

Driving During A Flood

• Avoid already flooded areas and areas subject to sudden flooding. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams.
• If you are driving and come upon rapidly rising waters or barricades, turn around and find another route. 
• Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains.
• If your vehicle becomes surrounded by water or the engine stalls and if you can safely get out, abandon your vehicle immediately and climb to higher ground. Use caution when abandoning your vehicle and look for an opportunity to move away quickly and safely to higher ground.