Oct. 29 through Nov. 4 has been declared Winter Weather Awareness Week in New York by the National Weather Service. NOAA out of Binghamton is sharing the following tips to help educate the public.
Preparedness
Modern civilization has learned hard lessons over the years of how mother nature can impact lives in a variety of ways. Natural disasters continue to span across the United States each year ranging from tidal surges from hurricanes impacting several states during the summer to ice storms that cause billions of dollars of damage forcing millions to go without power. Today, we will explore what precautions you can take to mitigate against New York’s harsh winters and how you can become ready and more resilient.
It has been proven that the best way to prepare for extreme weather is to have a plan. Never let a winter storm take you by surprise. If you are expecting to be at home or at work during an extreme winter weather event, you need to be concerned about losing power, heat, or cell/phone service. Losing one of these three services may create a life-threatening situation. Make sure you have a backup plan.
Whether you are at home, on the road or at work, one should always have an emergency kit. An emergency kit should include the following: a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio, food and water, extra prescriptions, an emergency heat source, first-aid supplies and a cell phone or another way to communicate such as a CB radio or amateur radio unit.
The best action to take during a winter storm is to stay inside and not travel, unless it is an emergency.
If you must drive, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination! Let someone know where you are going and what route you are going to take. If your car gets stuck in a storm, stay in your vehicle! If you leave your vehicle, you could become disoriented quickly if there is wind-driven snow and cold. Run the motor for a total of 10 minutes each hour for heat. While running the motor, open the window a little bit so that fresh air can get into the car to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you clear snow away from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning. Attach a bright cloth to your car door to draw attention to yourself, and when it stops snowing, raise the hood of your car to indicate to others you need help.