Stanley, Iowa

... Winter weather awareness day in Iowa...
... Winter weather awareness week in Minnesota and Wisconsin...

Our topic today is winter weather preparedness.

Proper winter weather awareness includes preparation. Here are some
things that can help.

When outdoors...

check temperatures and wind chill indicies first.
Dress warmly with several layers.
Dress for the worst weather possibilities just in case.
Use a warm coat... gloves or mittens... a hat... and water-resistant
boots.
Cover exposed skin as much as possible.
Watch for frostbite on finger tips... ear lobes... the nose or toes.
Avoid over-exertion. The cold already puts a strain on the body and
heart.

At home or work... make sure you have...

Extra flashlights and batteries.
A battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or am/FM portable radio.
Extra food and water... 2-3 day supply.
Extra medicine and baby items.
First aid supplies.
Emergency heating source.
Carbon monoxide detector.

Note... if you use an emergency heating source... be alert for deadly
Carbon monoxide gases and never place it near another object that
may catch on fire. Many house fires during the winter are caused by
incorrect use of a space heater. Keep the space heater at least 36
inches away from other objects and turn it off if you leave the
room.

On The Farm...

Move animals to a sheltered area.
Supply extra food for animals.
Have a fresh water supply... most animal deaths during the winter are
from dehydration.

At school...

Have an action plan.
Monitor weather conditions closely.
Use NOAA Weather Radio to get hourly wind chill values.
School days may need to be delayed... cancelled or shortened.

When traveling...

Winterize your vehicle. Check The Battery.
Check the forecast and Road conditions ahead of time.
Consider adjusting your Route to avoid poor driving conditions.
Carry a cellular phone for use during emergencies.
Keep the Gas Tank near full.
Coordinate with others your destination and times of travel.

Yield to snowplows. The snow cloud they produce can lower
visibilities to near zero. Stay back 200 feet - stay alive!

Have a survival kit in your car... items like...

Extra blankets or a sleeping bag.
Flashlight with extra batteries.
First aid kit with pockey knife.
Booster cables.
A rope.
A small shovel.
A bag of sand or Cat litter for traction.
Extra gloves... hat and socks.
Non-perishable food items and bottled water.
Road maps for alternative routes.

If you do get stuck... stay with your car.
Do not try to walk to safety. Start the car for about 10 minutes
every hour for heat. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
Tie a bright colored /red or Orange/ cloth to the antenna.
Turn the dome light when running the engine. If you must venture
away from the car... use a life-line or rope.

Be careful of dense fog. Delay your travel if needed.
Do not drive into a dense fog bank. Others may be stopped. In
October 2002... a pile-up on Interstate 43 in eastern Wisconsin
killed 10 people during dense fog. A large pile up along Interstate
90 in southern Wisconsin also occurred due to dense fog in 2008.