Get Ready for Winter Weather!
Winter Preparedness Week in Virginia is Nov. 30-Dec. 6
Recent Virginia winters have been cold and snowy, and many people had power outages. It’s so important to be winter-ready that the National Weather Service and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management have set aside Nov. 30-Dec. 6 as Winter Preparedness Week.
No matter the predictions, a significant winter storm is always possible. With an El Nino weather pattern expected this season, there could be a wetter than normal winter. And El Nino winters can be snowier if atmospheric conditions are right … just like the winter of 2009-10.
Remember: an important part of winter weather planning is being prepared to stay where you are until conditions improve. To be ready, take these steps:
· Get a kit. Basic emergency supplies include:
ü Three days’ food that doesn’t need refrigeration or electricity to prepare it
ü Three days’ water (a gallon per person per day)
ü A battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries
ü For businesses and offices, some bottles of water, food bars and a radio or TV to hear local information about whether or not it is safe to travel
ü A power pack for recharging cell phones and other mobile devices
· Make a plan. Everyone needs an emergency plan:
ü Decide who your out-of-town emergency contact will be.
ü Where will you meet up with family members if you can’t return home?
ü Get an emergency plan worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
· Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should:
ü Listen to local media for information and instructions from emergency officials.
ü Be aware of winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions.
ü Get where you need to go before the weather gets bad.
ü Get road condition information 24/7 by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org
· Download the Ready Virginia app. Free app for iPhone® and Android™ features:
ü Location-specific weather watches and warnings issued by NWS
ü Disaster news from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
ü A customizable family emergency plan that can be easily shared
ü A checklist for gathering emergency supplies
ü Links to register for local emergency alerts, and more
Prepared by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, November 2014
(804) 897-6510 pio@vdem.virginia.gov www.ReadyVirginia.gov
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