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WINTER STORMS a Major Winter Storm Can Be Lethal

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WINTER STORMS a Major Winter Storm Can Be Lethal F A C T S H E E T Federal Emergency Management Agency WINTER STORMS A major winter storm can be lethal. Preparing for cold weather conditions and responding to them effectively can reduce the dangers caused by winter storms. Be familiar with winter storm Contact your local emergency Develop an emergency warning messages. management office or American communication plan. (See Winter Storm Watches and Red Cross chapter for more In case family members are Warnings) information on winter storms. separated from one another during a winter storm (a real possibility Service snow removal equipment Keep pipes from freezing. during the day when adults are at and have rock salt on hand to ■ Wrap pipes in insulation or layers work and children are at school), melt ice on walkways and kitty of old newspapers. have a plan for getting back litter to generate temporary together. traction. ■ Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family Make sure you have sufficient ■ Let faucets drip a little to avoid contact.” After a disaster, it’s often heating fuel; regular fuel sources freezing. easier to call long distance. Make may be cut off. ■ Know how to shut off water sure everyone in the family knows valves. the name, address, and phone Winterize your home. number of the contact person. ■ Insulate walls and attic. Have disaster supplies on hand, in ■ Caulk and weather-strip doors case the power goes out. Make sure that all family mem- and windows. • Flashlight and extra batteries bers know how to respond after a severe winter storm. ■ Install storm windows or cover • Portable, battery-operated radio Teach children how and when to windows with plastic from the and extra batteries inside. call 9-1-1, police, or fire depart- • First aid kit ment, and which radio station to Have safe emergency heating • One-week supply of food (include tune to for emergency information. equipment available. items that do not require refrigera- • Fireplace with ample supply tion or cooking in case the power Kerosene Heaters of wood is shut off) Check with your local fire department on • Nonelectric can opener • Small, well-vented wood, coal, or the legality of using kerosene heaters in camp stove with fuel • One-week supply of essential your community. Use only the correct fuel • Portable space heaters or kerosene prescription medications for your unit and follow the manufacturer’s heaters (See Kerosene Heaters) • Extra blankets and sleeping bags instructions. Refuel outdoors only, and only when cool. Keep your kerosene Install and check smoke detectors. • Fire extinguisher (A-B-C type) heater at least 3 feet away from furniture and other flammable objects. IF INDOORS Avoid overexertion. Frostbite and Hypothermia Stay indoors and dress warmly. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed Frostbite is a severe reaction to cold Conserve fuel. exercise such as shoveling snow or exposure that can permanently damage its Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees pushing a car can bring on a heart victims. A loss of feeling and a white or during the day and 55 degrees at attack or make other medical pale appearance in fingers, toes, or nose night. Close off unused rooms. conditions worse. Be aware of and ear lobes are symptoms of frostbite. symptoms of dehydration. Hypothermia is a condition brought on If the pipes freeze, remove any when the body temperature drops to less insulation or layers of newspa- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Symptoms pers and wrap pipes in rags. of hypothermia include uncontrollable Completely open all faucets and Keep dry. shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, pour hot water over the pipes, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and Change wet clothing frequently to starting where they were most exhaustion. exposed to the cold (or where the prevent a loss of body heat. Wet If frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, cold was most likely to penetrate). clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. begin warming the person slowly and seek Listen to the radio or television to immediate medical assistance. Warm the get the latest storm information. Remember to help your neighbors person’s trunk first. Use your own body who may require special assis- heat to help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the IF OUTDOORS tance — infants, elderly people, and people with disabilities. limbs can drive cold blood toward the Dress warmly. heart and lead to heart failure. Put person Wear loose-fitting, layered, light- in dry clothing and wrap their entire body weight clothing. Layers can be Mitigation in a blanket. removed to prevent perspiration Never give a frostbite or hypothermia and chill. Outer garments should Mitigation includes any activities that victim something with caffeine in it (like be tightly woven and water repel- prevent an emergency, reduce the chance coffee or tea) or alcohol. Caffeine, a lent. Mittens are warmer than of an emergency happening, or lessen the stimulant, can cause the heart to beat gloves because fingers generate damaging effects of unavoidable faster and hasten the effects the cold has warmth when they touch each other. emergencies. Investing in preventive on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can mitigation steps now such as purchasing a slow the heart and also hasten the ill Stretch before you go out. flood insurance policy and installing storm effects of cold body temperatures. If you go out to shovel snow, do a windows will help reduce the impact of few stretching exercises to warm up winter storms in the future. For more your body. Also, take frequent information on mitigation, contact your Winter Storm Watches breaks. local emergency management office. and Warnings Cover your mouth. A winter storm watch indicates that Protect your lungs from extremely severe winter weather may affect your cold air by covering your mouth Wind Chill area. A winter storm warning indicates when outdoors. Try not to speak that severe winter weather conditions are “Wind chill” is a calculation of how cold unless absolutely necessary. definitely on the way. it feels outside when the effects of temperature and wind speed are A blizzard warning means that large combined. A strong wind combined with a amounts of falling or blowing snow and temperature of just below freezing can sustained winds of at least 35 miles per have the same effect as a still air hour are expected for several hours. temperature about 35 degrees colder. EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION September 1993 BACKGROUNDER WINTER STORMS WHAT IS A WINTER STORM? A winter storm can range from EMERGENCY INFORMATION 1. A major winter storm can last for several days and be accompa- moderate snow over a few hours to nied by high winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall, and blizzard conditions with blinding extremely cold temperatures. People can become stranded on the wind-driven snow that last several road or trapped at home, without utilities or other services. The best protection against severe winter weather is to stay inside and to days. Some winter storms may be dress warmly by wearing loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. large enough to affect several states 2. A serious danger during a winter storm is hypothermia—a while others may affect only a single condition brought on when the body temperature drops because of prolonged exposure to extreme cold. Hypothermia is not always community. All winter storms are fatal, but for those who survive there are likely to be lasting kidney, accompanied by low temperatures liver, and pancreatic problems. and blowing snow, which can 3. Heavy snowfall and blizzards can trap motorists in their cars. Attempting to walk for help in a blizzard can be a deadly decision. severely reduce visibility. A severe Disorientation and confusion come very quickly in blowing snow. winter storm is one that drops 4 or People trapped in a car during a blizzard do best to stay in the car more inches of snow during a 12- and wait for help. hour period, or 6 or more inches during a 24-hour span. An ice storm occurs when freezing rain falls from clouds and freezes immediately on impact. All winter storms make driving and walking extremely hazardous. The aftermath of a winter storm can impact a community or region for days, weeks, and even months. Storm effects such as extreme cold, flooding, and snow accumulation can cause hazardous Almost the entire United States except Hawaii and the territories are at some risk from winter storms. The level of risk depends on the severity of local winter weather. Winter storms conditions and hidden problems for known as “northeasters” cause extensive coastal flooding, erosion, and property loss in the people in the affected area. northeastern and middle Atlantic states. HELP YOUR COMMUNITY GET READY HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP The media can raise awareness about winter storms by providing important AFTER A DISASTER information to the community. Here are some suggestions: When disaster strikes, 1. Publish a special section in your local newspaper with people everywhere want to emergency information about winter storms. Place special help those in need. To en- emphasis on what people should do if they are caught sure that this compassion outside. and generosity are put to 2. Inform your community about the different National good use, the media can Weather Service announcements — winter storm watch, winter highlight these facts: storm warning, ice storm warning, heavy snow warning, blizzard warning, severe blizzard warning, high wind warning. Financial aid is an immediate need of 3. Conduct a series of presentations at the beginning disaster victims.
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