The National Weather Service out of Northern Indiana has issued a Winter Storm WARNING for our region and released the following information for the upcoming Winter Snow Storm. The precipitation will start out as rain, changing over to freezing rain or rain snow mix depending on the temperatures. A wet heavy snow will begin falling Wednesday afternoon and increase in amounts as the evening progresses. The most significant snow fall will occur during the evening hours Wednesday into early Thursday morning. The second snow fall will be a fluffy snow, due to the dropping temperatures. Blowing and drifting snow will occur all day Thursday and into Friday as well and begin in the morning on Thursday and go into Friday afternoon, stated Edward Bohn, Paulding County EMA Director. He stated it is important to heed the Winter Warning that has been issued by the NWS. Travel will be extremely dangerous at times, with slippery conditions, heavy snow accumulations and the temperature drop causing the blowing and drifting snow s to occur. Director Bohn emphasizes the following measures to take.
Prepare your home for winter. As a result of the tragedy in New York City, with the 19 deaths and 30 some hospitalized after a faulty space heater caused a fire in a bedroom. Have your auxiliary heat source, furnaces and fireplaces checked or serviced by a professional before using. Clear the snow from your gas furnace outside intake and exhaust. If using a portable generator, when the power goes out, guard against carbon monoxide poisoning and keep it outside your home while running. Make sure you have a working CO Detector in your home as well.
Prepare winter disaster kits for the home and vehicle. Refresh stored nonperishable foods and bottled water. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and radios. Winter emergency kits should include warm clothing, blankets, flashlights, new batteries, coats, hats, gloves, a battery-operated or hand-cranked radio, first aid kit, and enough nonperishable food and water (one gallon per person, per day) to sustain every family member for up to three days. Have stored food, bottled water and supplies for your pets, as well. With the reported traffic accidents and traffic jams as a result of the winter weather road condition, on the news in recent weeks, should remind us to have an emergency kit in our vehicles. The kit should have enough supplies similar to your home kit for each person in the vehicle to sustain them for up to 24 hours or until help arrives, Director Bohn stated.
Update your disaster preparedness plans. Every home, school, and business should have written plans for the different types of incidents that can occur. Review the plans with the entire family or staff. Everyone should know what to do in the event of a snow or ice storm, a prolonged power outage, a flood or fire. Post contact information for your local emergency management agency. Prepare and practice drills that require sheltering in place and evacuation. Because phone numbers change and families move, ensure your emergency contact list is updated. Establish a meeting place outside of the home, school or business, where others will know where to find or meet you.
February is the worst month during the winter season, stated Director Bohn. With the information provided, being to be prepared and being proactive, this will allow you and your family to deal with what old man winter dishes out. Other factors that often play a role in the winter weather include the Arctic Oscillation, which can influence the number of Arctic air masses that penetrate into the south, as we have seen. For additional information on winter weather safety and severe weather preparedness, visit OCSWA’s site at www.weathersafety.ohio.gov.
