District of Columbia

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            winter preparedness week in Virginia
                November 30-December 6, 2008
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The governor of Virginia has declared the week of November 30 to
December 6, 2008 is winter preparedness week. The National Weather
Service /NWS/ offices serving Virginia in cooperation with their
respective departments of emergency management... will send public
information statements over the NOAA weather wire service each day
through Saturday at approximately 11 am and 3 PM EST. These
statements will focus on different aspects of winter weather in
the mid Atlantic region... and preparedness actions the public
should take for the upcoming winter season.

Today's topic - winter preparedness at home

              is your home prepared for winter?

We think of our homes as the place we want to be when the weather
is nasty outside. However, if certain precautions are not taken
either before or during winter's wrath, life at home can be just as
miserable as the weather outside.

Severe winter storms can produce conditions which isolate you in
your home, sometimes for long periods. Prolonged loss of power
and telephone can severely limit the adequate heating of the home
or curtail your ability to call for help. In severe winter storms,
obtaining supplies of food and other necessities can be hampered or
prevented by poor Road conditions. The following are some helpful
hints to make the home a safe Haven during severe winter weather.

Do - stock an emergency supply of food and water prior to the onset
of a winter storm. Include foods which require no cooking such as
canned meats, Peanut butter and other non perishables. A three to
five day supply is generally sufficient.

Do - keep an adequate supply of heating fuel (including firewood)
in your home. Use your fuel (especially secondary sources)
sparingly as supplies may be in short order during significant
winter storms.

Do - keep on hand a flashlight, battery powered radio, extra
batteries and a first aid kit.

Do - use emergency heating equipment carefully. A wood burning
stove, fireplace or space heater may be your only single room heat
source should you lose your primary heating source.

Do - always safely operate portable electric generators outdoors
in a well ventilated location. Read the generator operations manual
thoroughly before using the generator.

Do - prevent water pipes from freezing by wrapping them in
insulation or newspaper covered with plastic. In severely cold
weather, let each faucet drip slightly to avoid freezing. Know how
to shut off your home's water supply.
   - If your pipes freeze, remove the insulation and wrap them with
rags. Open every faucet completely and pour hot water over the
affected pipes.

Do - know the emergency escape routes from your home should a
fire start. Your life may depend on it!

Don't - Cook (or heat your home) using a charcoal grill, gas grill or
Camp stove inside your house! Deadly Carbon monoxide fumes may
drift into your home even if you use a charcoal grill inside the
fireplace. In addition, using any of these inside greatly increases
the fire risk. Always use your charcoal grill, gas grill, or Camp
stove outside.

Additional information on winter weather preparedness can be
obtained on-line through the Virginia department of emergency
management home Page. The url is (in lower case):

    http://www.Vaemergency.Com/threats/winter/index.Cfm

In addition... the ready Virginia and ready North Carolina web
sites haves been developed to aid virginians and north carolinians
in their overall disaster preparedness. The urls are:

    http://www.Readyvirginia.Gov/ /English version/
    http://www.Listovirginia.Gov/ /Spanish version/
    http://readync.Org/ /English version/
    http://listonc.Org/ /Spanish version/

Up-to-date weather information is also available on-line from the
following National Weather Service sites (all urls in lower case):

NWS Sterling - http://weather.Gov/lwx
NWS Wakefield - http://weather.Gov/akq
NWS Blacksburg - http://weather.Gov/rnk
NWS Charleston WV - http://weather.Gov/rlx
NWS State College PA - http://weather.Gov/ctp
NWS Mt Holly PA - http://weather.Gov/phi

National Weather Service winter weather awareness home Page -

Http://www.NWS.NOAA.Gov/om/winter/index.Shtml

Chris strong
warning coordination meteorologist
NOAA/National Weather Service
Sterling VA