Winter Weather Safety and Survival

So, what can we do now to get ready for winter weather?

Each family should have a plan of how you will deal with a major winter storm. Think about it now before you really need to put the plan into action.

With holiday travel season coming up, it’s more critical than ever to keep up with the weather, from home to your destination and everywhere in between. If winter precipitation is forecast, you might consider delaying the trip to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation. Even small amounts of freezing drizzle, sleet or snow can cause significant travel problems.

An winter storm safety kit will be critical to your safety should a major winter storm cause you to lose electrical power and/or water service. A three-day supply of essential supplies, including water and food for the family, batteries, flashlights and medical supplies, should be in place and checked frequently. This supply kit will be the same one you should have on hand during tornado season. In addition, if you have to travel this winter you should have an emergency survival kit in your vehicle as well.

NWS offices serving the people of Oklahoma work hard to get the word out as far in advance as possible when winter storms approach. Whether you get your information from television and radio, the Internet or weather radio, you should keep up to date on the latest forecasts and warnings.

One of the items that should be in everyone’s disaster supplies kit is a battery operated weather radio. Weather radio is a service of your National Weather Service office and provides round the clock weather information, including all the latest winter weather information.