Snow/Blizzard/Cold
- If indoors during event
- Follow public instructions regarding driving, closures, weather changes and safety concerns
- Keep gas tank in vehicles at least half full before event (1-2 days before)
- Maintain adequate, easy to prepare food and water storage in your home (up to 3 days with a complete go-kit)
- To preserve heat in the home:
- Close off rooms/areas not being used
- Put towels under doorways to seal off cracks
- Cover windows at night
- Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and warm clothing
- If outdoors during event
- Find dry and secure shelter with food/water/necessities as fast as possible
- Cover all exposed body parts
- If stranded in a vehicle
- Make use of any device (cell phone, tablet) that you have to contact emergency help and your family
- Make your vehicle as visible as possible
- Stay in the vehicle
- Run the vehicle for about 10 minutes each hour with the windows slightly open (make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked/clogged, if it is, unblock/unclog it)
- Exercise/move inside the vehicle as much as possible to keep your blood flowing and to keep warm
Extreme Heat
- Be prepared
- Install central air conditioning or window air conditioners
- Use solar curtains or window reflectors to block sun rays and heat
- Weather-strip doors and windows
- Install attic ventilator or attic fan to regulate and clear out hot air
- Chill water and/or sports drinks
- During extreme heat warning
- Find air conditioning or shade if outside
- Avoid strenuous activities
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Wear light clothing
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car
- Heat-related illness
- Heat cramps
- Muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms or legs
- Go to cooler location, remove excess clothing, take sips of cool sports drinks
- If cramps last longer than 1 hour, seek medical attention
- Heat exhaustion
- Heaving sweating, paleness, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting
- Go to air-conditioned place and lie down, loosen or remove clothing, take cool bath, take sips of cool sports drinks
- If symptoms get worse or last longer than 1 hour, seek medical attention
- Heat stroke
- Extremely high body temperature (above 103 degrees) taken orally; red, hot, dry skin with no sweat; rapid, strong pulse; dizziness, confusion or unconsciousness
- Call 911 or get to hospital immediately. Cool down however possible until medical help arrives
- Heat cramps
Power Outage
- Be prepared
- Take inventory of items that rely on electricity
- Have batteries, flashlights, lanterns, portable charger ready for use
- Stock up on water and nonperishable food that does not need to be cooked or heated
- Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every floor of your home
- Talk to your doctor about a power outage plan for medical devices that need electricity or refrigeration
- For homes with wells, prepare large jugs of water or fill bathtub to have water on hand for refilling toilet tank
- For homes with generators, keep extra fuel and store away from the house
- When power goes out
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed
- Refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours
- Freezer will keep temperature for about 48 hours
- Turn off or disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid possible power surge or spike
- During cold weather, dress in layers and use sleeping bags or blankets to stay warm. For extreme cold temperatures and lengthy power outages, seek warm shelter
- During hot weather, dress in light clothing and keep hydrated. For extreme heat and lengthy power outages, seek air conditioning
- Homes with septic systems and wells
- Do not run water to prevent backup into home and damage to well pump
- Only flush toilets if you have water to replenish the tank
- You may continue using your water if you have a generator
- Generator use
- Keep outside with plenty of room for ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning
- Ensure all electrical devices are turned off before they are connected to generator
- Once generator is running, switch devices on one by one
- Shut them down again before switching back to your utility service
- When power returns
- Inspect your refrigerator and freezer and discard food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for 2 or more hours, and/or that appears and smells differently
- Discard any medication stored in your refrigerator if power was out for more than 1 day and seek new supply
Flood
- If indoors during event
- Be prepared to evacuate with go-kit, communication plan, evacuation plan, and have preparedness plan ready and easily accessible
- Evacuate if officials advise to. Never stay in your home or in place if you can evacuate
- If there is time, move valuable and easily contaminated objects to higher ground, especially if in basement or on ground floor
- If outdoors during event
- Climb to highest ground
- Do not walk/drive/bike in flood water (it is highly contaminated and full of debris, both of which are extremely dangerous)
- If vehicle stalls, abandon it and climb to highest ground