Staying safe as winter storms approach

With winter storms approaching, it’s time to think about how to keep our families safe during inclement weather.  Storms can cause extensive damage.  By being prepared you can save lives and reduce the amount of damage caused by inclement weather. 
Following are some tips for what to do before, during, and after thunder, wind, or snow storms and power outages. 

Always make sure you dress for the weather. 

Wear weather appropriate clothing.  Wear a rain coat for wet days, a heavy coat for winter cold and snow.   Even if you’re just going out for a few minutes, be prepared.  You could get delayed and put yourself at risk if you’re not dressed for the weather.  Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Wear mittens rather than gloves. Wear a warm, woolen cap. 

Vehicle upkeep

 Make sure your vehicle is in good working order.  You don’t want to break down in the middle of a snowstorm.  Check your windshield wipers to ensure they're in good condition, if they’re not, replace them. Fill your gas tank before the snow starts falling, confirm that your headlights work and that your tires are fully inflated.  

Driving in inclement weather

• Do not drive unnecessarily. Best thing to do would be to stay home.  If you have to drive make sure someone knows where you are going and stay on the main roads.
• When it’s raining, always drive with your headlights onto be better seen.  Drive at a safe speed, leaving enough room between you and the car in front of you.  If the rain is so heavy you can’t see the road in front of you, pull over and wait for it to let up.
• If you are driving in a lighting storm, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
• In a wind storm, pull off the road and stop away from trees. If possible, walk into a safe building. Avoid overpasses, power lines and other hazards.
• If your car breaks down or you get stuck somewhere, try to remain inside the vehicle. Use a bright distress flag or your hazard lights to draw attention to your vehicle. During night hours, keep the dome light on in the car so rescue crews can see your vehicle.
• If trapped in a blizzard, clear your tail pipe and run your engine and heater for 10 minutes every hour. Open your window slightly.

Before any kind of storm

• Listen to your radio or television for winter storm forecasts and other information.
• Consider buying a generator. When installing a generator, follow the instructions carefully. Keep your generator outside and run a cord inside. Don't connect your generator to main service panels—it's dangerous! Improper use of a generator can cause carbon monoxide poisoning so make sure to place a carbon monoxide detector indoors.
• Make sure your disaster preparedness kit contains light sticks, flashlights, a battery-powered radio with extra batteries and a wind-up clock.
• Know what emergency plans are in place at your workplace, school and daycare center.
• If you own an electric garage door opener, locate the manual override and know how to open the door in case of a power outage.

A couple more things while preparing for a power outage

• Register life-sustaining and medical equipment with your utility company.
• Have a corded telephone available — cordless phones will not work when the power is out. Or make sure your cell phone is charged.
• Have a safe alternative heat source and supply of fuel. 

What to do before a windstorm

• If you live on a coastal or inland shoreline, be familiar with evacuation routes.
• Conduct a home safety evaluation to find out which nearby trees could fall in windstorm.

Preparing for winter storms

• Prepare your home for cold weather. Install storm windows. Insulate outside walls, attics and crawl spaces. Wrap pipes, especially those near cold outer walls or in attics or crawl spaces. Repair leaks in the roof, around the doors and in the windows.
• If you have a kerosene heater, refuel your heater outside and remember to keep it at least three feet from flammable objects.
• Make sure your fireplace functions properly.
• Have rock salt and sand on hand for traction on ice.

What to do during storms and power outages

• Be sure to eat regularly. Food provides calories that maintain body heat.
• Reduce the temperature in your home to conserve fuel.
• Heat only the areas of your home you are using. Close doors and curtains or cover windows and doors with blankets.
• Turn off lights and electrical appliances except for the refrigerator and freezer. Even if it is dark, turn light switches and buttons on lamps or appliances to the “off” position.
• Unplug computers and other sensitive equipment to protect them from possible surges when the power is restored.
• Leave one lamp on so you will know when power is restored. Wait at least 15 minutes after power is restored before turning on other appliances.
• Conserve water, especially if you use well water.
• Never use gas ovens, gas ranges, barbecues or portable or propane heaters for indoor heating—they use oxygen and create carbon monoxide that can cause suffocation.
• Candles can cause a fire. It's far better to use battery-operated flashlights or glow sticks for lighting.
• Using a kerosene heater, gas lantern or stove inside the house can be dangerous. Maintain proper ventilation at all times to avoid a buildup of toxic fumes.
• Stay away from downed power lines and sagging trees with broken limbs.
• If you are indoors, move away from windows or objects that could fall. Go to lower floors in multi-story homes.
• Be careful when shoveling snow. Do not overexert yourself.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia — slurred speech, disorientation, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
• Bring dogs and cats inside during cold weather.
• If you become trapped outside, get out of the wind and stay dry. Build a lean-to or snow cave if nothing else is available. Do not eat snow; it will make you too cold.

Specifically for Thunder storms:

• Watch for signs of a storm, like darkening skies, lightning flashes or increasing wind.
• Avoid electrical equipment and telephones. Use battery-­powered TVs and radios instead.
• Shutter windows and close outside doors securely. Keep away from windows.
• Do not take a bath, shower or use plumbing.
• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground, water, tall, isolated trees, and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.

Keep food safe

• Use and store food carefully to prevent food borne illness when power outages make refrigeration unavailable.
• Use foods first that can spoil most rapidly.
• Keep doors to refrigerators and freezers closed. Your refrigerator's freezer will keep food frozen for up to a day. A separate fully-loaded freezer will keep food frozen for two days.
• Use an ice chest packed with ice or snow to keep food cold. Buy dry ice to save frozen food. Do not handle dry ice with your bare hands. Use blocks or bags of ice to save refrigerator foods.
• Use caution if storing food outside during winter to keep it cold. The outside temperature varies, especially in the sun. Frozen food may thaw and refrigerator food may become warm enough to grow bacteria. Food stored outside must be secured from contamination by animals.
• If in doubt, throw it out. Throw out meat, seafood, dairy products and cooked food that does not feel cold.
• Never taste suspect food. Even if food looks and smells fine, illness-causing bacteria may be present.

What to do after a storm

• Check yourself and those around you for injuries.
• Evacuate damaged buildings. Do not re-enter until declared safe by authorities.
• Call 9-1-1 only to report a life threatening emergency.
• If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound indoors — open windows and leave the building. Turn off the gas source and call your gas company. Do not use matches, candles, open flames or electric switches indoors.
• If the power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food frozen for up to two days.
• Provide assistance to your neighbors, especially the elderly or disabled.
• Try to make contact with your out-of-area phone contact, but avoid making local telephone calls.
• Monitor your portable or weather radio for instructions or an official "all clear" notice. Radio stations will broadcast what to do, the location of emergency shelters, medical aid stations, and the extent of damage.

Lastly, your home, work, and car should all be stocked with emergency kits.

For your car, you should include a three-day supply of water and non-perishable food that can be eaten without being cooked. Include a blanket or sleeping bag for each passenger, a flashlight, cell phone, shovel, sack of sand or kitty litter, booster cables, flare, coffee can with lid, and toilet paper. 

For work keep everything in one container so you can grab and go in case of an evacuation.  Keep food and water in the container. Also, be sure to have com­fortable walking shoes at your workplace in case an evacuation requires walking long distances.

For your home disaster kit, you should have:

• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won’t spoil.
• One change of clothing and footwear per person, including:
• Jacket or coat.
• Long pants.
• Long sleeve shirt.
• Sturdy shoes.
• Hat, mittens, and scarf.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person).
• A first aid kit that includes your family’s prescription medications.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys.
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
• Cash
• Sanitation and hygiene supplies. (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
• Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members.
• Matches and waterproof container.
• Whistle.
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
• Special needs items such as an extra pair of glasses, contact solution, hearing aid, etc
• Keep important family documents in a waterproof container.

Make sure you’re prepared this winter so you can keep your family safe from injury and illness and your home safe from damage.  Be ready to weather the storm.

For more information on staying safe during storms and visit:

Ready

FEMA 

Red Cross 

Sources: 

Along with the three links above, our sources for this blog include

The city of Tacoma

Tacoma Power

The Washington State Department of Health