Winter is coming! Be prepared!
By Janel McNair, El Paso County Public Health Acting Division Director for Disease Prevention and Response
For most of us, the return of cold days recalls cozy nights with family, curling up with a good book or festive holiday celebrations. But winter weather can also bring dangers, whether we are on the road or just staying home for a quiet evening. Thankfully, these dangers can be greatly reduced with proper planning and awareness. From early winter storms to home heating hazards, a little preparation can go a long way in keeping your family safe and comfortable.
Stay alert
Let’s start with the basics. It’s important to be aware of your weather conditions. Even on a sunny day, extreme weather could be just hours away. Remember to keep up with weather news and updates from local officials. It’s also a great idea to sign up for alerts on your phone. These alerts will not only let you know about extreme weather, but also manmade and natural disasters that could impact the local area. Visit https://elpasoteller911/org/peak-alerts to sign up.
Wondering what kind of storms you should look out for? According to the National Weather Service, you will want to watch for the following types of weather:
- Snow Squall: Intense, but limited duration, periods of moderate to heavy snowfall, accompanied by gusty surface winds resulting in reduced visibility and whiteout conditions. Rapidly falling temperatures in conjunction with the snow can cause dangerous impacts to surface transportation.
- Blizzard: Blowing and/or falling snow with winds of at least 35 mph, reducing visibilities to a quarter of a mile or less for at least three hours. Winds lofting the current snowpack and reducing visibility without any falling snow is called a ground blizzard.
- Freezing rain: Caused by rain falling on surfaces with a temperature below freezing. The rain freezes upon contact with the ground. Large buildups of ice can down trees and power lines and coat roads.
- Sleet: Rain/melted snow that has begun refreezing when it reaches the ground. Sleet tends to be softer than hail and is easily compacted. Sleet can make roads slippery very quickly.
- Wind chill: The apparent temperature the body feels when wind is factored into the equation. Remember to dress for temperature and wind chill.
Travel safely
Hitting the road? Make sure that your vehicle is ready for winter weather. Check your tires, battery and wipers. Be sure to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with blankets, water, snacks, a flashlight and an ice scraper. Remember to check road conditions and to never drive drowsy or impaired. If you are traveling, ensure that your home is secure by locking doors and windows, setting light timers and unplugging non-essential electronics.
Get outside
Going outside? Remember to bundle up! Dress in layers to avoid frostbite and hypothermia and watch for black ice, especially in the early morning and evening hours. If you are going out to shovel your driveway or walkway, remember to monitor yourself for overexertion. Taking breaks will help you avoid injury!
Home safe home
Staying home? It’s a great idea to put together a home emergency kit. Include water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, blankets and a battery-powered radio. This is also the time of year to test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (and replace batteries as needed) and have furnaces, fireplaces and chimneys serviced. If you need to use a space heater, remember to keep it 3 feet from anything flammable. And don’t forget, space heaters, stoves and ovens should never be left unattended.
With a little preparation and awareness, you can enjoy a safe and peaceful start to the winter season. Stay warm, stay aware and stay safe this winter!
