BE PREPARED...BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES!
THE WINTER STORM WATCH
THE WINTER STORM
THE WINTER STORM WATCH
NORMALLY, WHEN A WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED, THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH 12 TO 36 HOURS IN
ADVANCE. A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS EXIST FOR THE
POSSIBLE OCCURRENCE OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS, HEAVY
SNOW, SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN, OR HEAVY SLEET.
A WINTER STORM WATCH IS YOUR SIGNAL TO PREPARE FOR THE
STORM NOW. ONCE THE STORM BEGINS, TRAVEL MAY BE TOO DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.
PREPARING AT HOME (AND AT WORK)...
REMAINING INSIDE PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS IS THE SAFEST PLACE
DURING A WINTER STORM. THE PRIMARY CONCERN OF BEING INDOORS IS THE POTENTIAL
LOSS OF HEAT, POWER, TELEPHONE SERVICE, AND A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES IF THE STORM
PERSISTS FOR MORE THAN A DAY.
HERE IS A CHECKLIST YOU CAN USE TO BE PREPARED
PREPARING FOR THE INDOORS :
 | FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES; |
| BATTERY POWERED WEATHER RADIO AND PORTABLE RADIO TUNED TO WCCO; |
| EXTRA FOOD AND WATER, ESPECIALLY HIGH ENERGY FOOD THAT REQUIRES NO COOKING OR REFRIGERATION SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT AND CANNED GOODS (DON'T FORGET THE NON-ELECTRIC CAN OPENER); |
| MEDICINE, FIRST AID SUPPLIES, AND AMPLE BABY SUPPLIES; |
| EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE, SUCH AS A STOCKED FIREPLACE, WOOD STOVE, OR SPACE HEATER. |
| SMOKE DETECTOR AND FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE CHANCE OF FIRE INCREASES DRAMATICALLY USING ALTERNATIVE HEATING! |
| CARBON
MONOXIDE DETECTOR |
DON'T FORGET, YOU MAY NOT BE AT HOME WHEN THE STORM STRIKES! HAVE EMERGENCY SUPPLIES AVAILABLE AT YOUR PLACE OF WORK.
PREPARING THE CAR OR TRUCK...
ABOUT 70% OF DEATHS DURING AN ICE OR SNOW STORM OCCUR IN A VEHICLE! IF YOU WONDER IF YOU SHOULD ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL, THEN DON'T! IF YOU MUST TRAVEL THEN ALLOW EXTRA TIME. REDUCE YOUR SPEED AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE SUDDEN TURNS OR STOPS. WINTERIZE THE VEHICLE SO IT WILL BE RELIABLE. THIS INCLUDES A GOOD SET OF TIRES. OTHER ITEMS NECESSARY FOR THE CAR OR TRUCK INCLUDE:
| DRY BLANKET(S) OR SLEEPING BAG; |
| EXTRA DRY CLOTHING; |
| FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES; |
| HIGH CALORIE NON-PERISHABLE FOOD(i.e., granola bars and Powerbars); |
| SNOW SHOVEL, WINDSHIELD SCRAPER, AND BRUSH; |
| SACK OF SAND, ROCK SALT, OR KITTY LITTER FOR TRACTION; |
| BOOSTER CABLES; |
| FIRST AID KIT AND A SMALL CONTAINER FOR WATER; |
| MAPS, COMPASS, KNIFE, AND WATER PROOF MATCHES. |
KEEP ON TOP OF THE LATEST WEATHER FORECAST. WE
RECOMMEND YOU LISTEN TO WCCO RADIO AND TV STATION FOR UPDATED STORM
INFORMATION. BEING PREPARED BEFORE THE STORM HITS WILL KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
FROM UNNECESSARY RISK!
BACK
TO APPLE VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT
THE WINTER STORM
NORMALLY, WHEN A WINTER STORM IS IMMINENT, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
WILL ISSUE A WINTER STORM
6 TO 24 HOURS BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES. A WINTER STORM
MEANS THAT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS HEAVY SNOW, SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN,
OR HEAVY SLEET IS EXPECTED. A BLIZZARD MEANS
THAT SUSTAINED OR GUSTY WINDS OF 35 MPH OR MORE ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE
VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A MILE DUE TO FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW
FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS.
THE ISSUANCE OF THE WINTER STORM IS
YOUR SIGNAL TO TAKE STEPS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND PETS OR
ANIMALS SAFE DURING THE STORM.
ALL UNNECESSARY TRAVEL SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER.
SEVENTY PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS DURING SNOW AND ICE STORMS OCCUR IN VEHICLES! IF
YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE AND SHELTER IS NOT VISIBLE NEARBY THEN STAY
WITH YOUR VEHICLE...
| RUN THE MOTOR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. KEEP THE TAILPIPE FREE FROM SNOW AND OPEN THE WINDOW SLIGHTLY FROM TIME TO TIME TO LET IN FRESH AIR(REMEMBER CARBON MONOXIDE!!). |
| MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE BY TURNING ON THE DOME LIGHT WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND TIE A COLORED (RED) CLOTH TO YOUR ANTENNA OR DOOR. |
| EXERCISE OCCASIONALLY BY VIGOROUSLY MOVING ARMS, LEGS, FINGERS, AND TOES TO KEEP YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATING. |
| CLOSE OFF UNNEEDED ROOMS AND STUFF TOWELS OR RAGS IN CRACKS UNDER DOORS. |
| COVER WINDOWS AT NIGHT. |
| EAT AND DRINK REGULARLY TO KEEP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE UP AND
PREVENT DEHYDRATION. |
PROVIDE FOR PETS BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE SHELTER AND PLENTY OF FOOD
AND FRESH WATER AVAILABLE.
MOST DEATHS AND INJURIES DURING WINTER STORMS CAN BE PREVENTED!
OVEREXERTION IN THE COLD KILLS MANY PEOPLE. THE HEART AND BLOOD VESSELS
CONSTRICT IN COLD CONDITIONS TO PRESERVE BODY HEAT. TOO MUCH EXERTION CAN CAUSE
A HEART ATTACK.
WHEN SHOVELING SNOW OR DOING OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE COLD YOU SHOULD
ALWAYS SET A SLOW PACE. TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND WARM YOURSELF REGULARLY.
SWEATING CAN LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA (LOW BODY TEMPERATURE). THE SIGNS OF
HYPOTHERMIA INCLUDE UNCONTROLABLE SHIVERING, DISORIENTATION, SLURRED SPEECH, AND
DROWSINESS OR EXHAUSTION. IF THE BODY TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED BELOW 95 F SEEK
IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP.
FROSTBITE CAN ALSO OCCUR FROM EXPOSURE TO THE COLD. FROSTBITE CAUSES
A LOSS OF FEELING AND USUALLY OCCURS IN EXTREMITIES SUCH AS TOES OR FINGERS
FIRST.
WHEN TREATING HYPOTHERMIA OR FROSTBITE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE AFFECTED
AREA IS DRY AND THEN WARM IT SLOWLY USING BLANKETS! A PERSON SUFFERING FROM
HYPOTHERMIA MUST HAVE THEIR CHEST, NECK, AND HEAD WARMED FIRST.
WHEN SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS IN THE COLD...WEAR SEVERAL LAYERS OF
LOOSE- FITTING, LIGHT WEIGHT, WARM CLOTHING. REMOVE LAYERS OF CLOTHING TO AVOID
PERSPIRATION, AND SUBSEQUENT CHILL.
IF YOU HAVE FURTHER WINTER SAFETY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL US AT 952-953-2600 OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO Captain Stew Shepard
BACK TO THE BACK TO APPLE VALLEY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
