National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

WINTER STORMS ARE CONSIDERED DECEPTIVE KILLERS BECAUSE MOST 
DEATHS ARE INDIRECTLY RELATED TO THE STORM. PEOPLE DIE IN TRAFFIC 
ACCIDENTS...FROM HEART ATTACKS WHILE SHOVELING SNOW...AND FROM 
HYPOTHERMIA FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE COLD. EVERYONE IS 
POTENTIALLY AT RISK DURING WINTER STORMS. THE ACTUAL THREAT 
DEPENDS ON YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION. MOST OF THE DEATHS THAT 
ARE RELATED TO ICE AND SNOW OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES AND MANY 
OTHERS OCCUR BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CAUGHT OUT IN THE STORM. ABOUT 
HALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT DIE AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE 
TO THE COLD ARE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE AND ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF 
THOSE VICTIMS ARE AT HOME.

EARLY PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER WILL IMPROVE YOUR 
CHANCES OF BEING ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY AVOID WINTER WEATHER 
RELATED COMPLICATIONS. 

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS THAT WILL HELP KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY 
SAFE THIS WINTER SEASON...

AT HOME AND AT WORK...THE MAIN CONCERNS ARE THE POSSIBLE LOSS
OF HEAT...POWER...PHONE SERVICE...AND A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES.

HAVE AVAILABLE...
...A FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES.
...A BATTERY-POWERED AM FM RADIO AND A NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR
   EMERGENCY INFORMATION. THESE MAY BE YOUR ONLY OUTSIDE LINKS.
..EXTRA FOOD AND WATER. HIGH ENERGY FOOD: SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT
   OR BREAD AND FOOD NEEDING NO REGRIGERATION OR COOKING IS BEST.
...EXTRA MEDICINE AND BABY ITEMS.
...SUPPLIES FOR FIRST AID.
...HEATING FUEL. FUEL CARRIERS MAY NOT REACH YOU FOR DAYS AFTER
   A SEVERE WINTER STORM.
..EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE SUCH AS A FIREPLACE: WOOD STOVE OR
   SPACE HEATER. LEARN TO USE THESE CORRECTLY TO PREVENT FIRE
   AND KEEP AREAS WELL VENTILLATED
...FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SMOKE DETECTOR. TEST THESE REGULARLY
   TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY.

IF YOU TRAVEL...PLAN FOR POTENTIAL WINTER WEATHER.  STAY ALERT
TO THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS IN ADVANCE OF WINTER STORMS
TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY. CHECK AND WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE AT THE
START OF THE WINTER SEASON.  KEEP YOUR GAS TANK NEAR FULL TO
AVOID ICE IN THE TANK AND FUEL LINES. AVOID TRAVELING ALONE...
AND LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR TRAVEL PLANS...TIMETABLE AND ROUTE.

IF A WINTER STORM THREATENS YOUR ROUTE...HAVE THE FOLLOWING
WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU...
...BLANKETS/SLEEPING BAGS
...FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES
...FIRST AID KIT
...KNIFE
...FOOD THAT IS HIGH IN ENERGY AND NON PERISHABLE
...EXTRA CLOTHING TO KEEP DRY
...CAN AND WATER-PROOF MATCHES TO MELT SNOW FOR DRINKING WATER
...SACK OF SAND
...SHOVEL
...WINDSHIELD SCRAPER AND BRUSH
...TOOL KIT
...TOW ROPE
...BOOSTER CABLES
...WATER CONTAINER
...LARGE CONTAINER FOR TISSUE PAPER AND TOWELS
...COMPASS AND ROAD MAPS.

ON THE FARM...
...MOVE ANIMALS TO A SHELTERED AREA IF POSSIBLE.
...PROVIDE EXTRA FEED TO NEARBY FEEDING AREAS.
...HAVE A WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE. MOST ANIMAL DEATHS IN
   WINTER STORMS ARE FROM DEHYDRATION.

DRESS TO FIT THE SEASON. WEAR LOOSE FITTING...LIGHT WEIGHT...
WARM CLOTHING IN SEVERAL LAYERS. TRAPPED AIR INSULATES. LAYERS
CAN BE REMOVED TO AVOID PERSPIRATION AND SUBSEQUENT CHILL.
OUTER GARMENTS SHOULD BE TIGHTLY WOVEN... WATER REPELLENT...
AND HOODED. WEAR A HAT. SIGNIFICANT BODY HEAT LOSS CAN BE FROM
THE HEAD. COVER YOUR MOUTH TO PROTECT YOUR LUNGS FROM EXTREME
COLD. MITTENS THAT ARE SNUG AT THE WRIST ARE BETTER THAN GLOVES.
TRY TO STAY DRY.