Winter Storms

• Be prepared for winter storms by having:
  • a battery-powered radio with extra batteries
  • extra food that doesn’t need cooking (like canned food)
  • rock salt to melt ice and sand to improve traction
  • flashlights and battery-powered lamps (if the electricity goes off)
  • wood for your fireplace (if you have one).
    
    
• If you go out in very cold weather, dress in several layers of clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves, and you should wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs from the cold air. Watch for frost bite. (Frostbite happens when your skin is exposed in very cold temperatures or you are not dressed warmly enough. You will have a loss of feeling in that part -- usually a finger or toe or the tip of your nose -- and it may turn white or pale. Get help right away!)
  
  
• If you get trapped in your car during a blizzard, you should set your lights on flashing and hang a piece of cloth or distress flag from the radio antennae or window. Then get back in and stay in the car! Do not go out on foot unless you can see a building nearby. Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes out of each hour. When the engine is running, open a window slightly. This will protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning. You may need to clear snow away from the car’s exhaust pipe.
  
  
• You can use road maps, seat covers and floor mats for warmth. You can also huddle with the other passengers! Take turns sleeping so one person is always awake when rescuers come.
  
  
• If you are stranded in a remote area you may need to leave the car on foot after the blizzard passes.