NWS: Safety Rules for Blizzards

[Persepone]

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
136 AM EST SAT JAN 22 2005

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-222000-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
136 AM EST SAT JAN 22 2005

...SAFETY RULES FOR BLIZZARDS...

WHAT IS A BLIZZARD? AS DEFINED BY NOAA'S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...
A BLIZZARD OCCURS WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS REACH 35 MPH
AND SNOW OR BLOWING SNOW REDUCES VISIBILITIES TO 1/4 OF A MILE OR
LESS...FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE
REQUIREMENT FOR A BLIZZARD.

BLIZZARDS ARE DANGEROUS. DOZENS OF AMERICANS DIE DURING MAJOR WINTER
WEATHER EPISODES...EITHER DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL OR PROLONGED EXPOSURE
TO THE COLD. OTHER HAZARDS CAN ALSO BE ATTRIBUTED TO WINTER
WEATHER...SUCH AS VEHICULAR ACCIDENTS...STRUCTURE FIRES DUE TO
DANGEROUS USE OF HEATERS AND BLOCKAGE OF VENTS DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL
WHICH CAN LEAD TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. WIDESPREAD POWER
OUTAGES COULD ALSO OCCUR...WHICH CAN BE PROLONGED AS THE SNOW
FALLS...MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR REPAIR CREWS TO RESTORE POWER.

WHEN BLIZZARDS ARE EXPECTED...YOU SHOULD DRESS FOR THE SEASON...
ESPECIALLY WITH THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND HIGH WINDS EXPECTED
WITH THIS STORM. IF YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE...WEAR LOOSE FITTING...
LIGHTWEIGHT...WARM CLOTHES IN LAYERS. OUTER WEAR SHOULD BE TIGHTLY
WOVEN...WATER REPELLENT AND HOODED. A HAT SHOULD BE WORN. HALF OF A
PERSON'S BODY HEAT LOSS OCCURS FROM THE HEAD. THE MOUTH SHOULD BE
COVERED TO PROTECT THE LUNGS FROM EXTREME COLD. MITTENS SHOULD BE
WORN RATHER THAN GLOVES AND SHOULD BE SNUG AT THE WRIST. DO YOUR
BEST TO REMAIN DRY. MELTING SNOW ON THE CLOTHES AS WELL AS
PERSPIRATION WILL ADD TO THE DANGER OF FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA.

TO BE PREPARED FOR WINTER WEATHER...HERE ARE SOME ITEMS TO HAVE ON
HAND AT HOME OR WORK:

A FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES.

BATTERY POWERED RADIOS AND TELEVISION SETS...INCLUDING A NOAA
WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS WITH A WARNING ALARM TONE...SO YOU CAN
RECEIVE EMERGENCY INFORMATION. THESE MAY BE YOUR ONLY LINK TO THE
OUTSIDE.

EXTRA FOOD AND WATERS...HAVE HIGH ENERGY FOODS SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT...
NUTS AND GRANOLA BARS...ALONG WITH FOOD THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE
COOKING OR REFRIGERATION.

EXTRA MEDICINE AND BABY ITEMS.

FIRST AID SUPPLIES.

HEATING FUEL FOR OIL HEATED HOMES. FUEL CARRIERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
REACH YOUR HOME FOR DAYS AFTER A WINTER STORM.

AN EMERGENCY HEAT SOURCE...SUCH AS A FIREPLACE...WOOD STOVE OR
SPACE HEATER. ENSURE PROPER USE TO PREVENT FIRES AND PROPER
VENTILATION.

A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SMOKE ALARM. THE SMOKE ALARMS SHOULD BE
TESTED MONTHLY TO ENSURE THEY WORK PROPERLY.

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR VENTS ARE CLEARED OF HEAVY WET SNOW OR SNOW
DRIFTS TO PREVENT THE RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

IF YOU HAVE PETS...MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL. MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE A WARM SHELTER AND PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER.
PREFERABLY..THEY SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE HOME FOR THEIR SAFETY.

IF YOU ARE DRIVING...HERE ARE SOME SAFETY TIPS IN CASE THE WORST
HAPPENS AND YOU ARE CAUGHT IN THE STORM:

MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR GAS TANK NEAR FULL TO AVOID FREEZING UP THE
GAS LINES AND ICE IN THE TANK.

YOU SHOULD CARRY A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT IN YOUR CAR...WHICH SHOULD
INCLUDE:

A MOBILE PHONE WITH CHARGER AND BATTERIES

BLANKETS OR SLEEPING BAGS

A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES

A FIRST AID KIT

HIGH CALORIE...NON-PERISHABLE FOOD

EXTRA CLOTHING TO KEEP DRY. THE DANGER OF HYPOTHERMIA IS REAL...
ESPECIALLY IF GOING OUT OF YOUR CAR TO CLEAR THE TAILPIPE.

SMALL CAN AND WATERPROOF MATCHES TO MELT SNOW FOR DRINKING WATER.

A SACK OF SAND OR CAT LITTER FOR TRACTION

A SHOVEL

A WINDSHIELD SCRAPER AND BRUSH

A TOOL KIT

A TOW ROPE

BATTERY JUMPER CABLES

A WATER CONTAINER

A COMPASS AND ROAD MAPS...OR EVEN A GPS SYSTEM

IF YOU ARE TRAVELING DURING THIS STORM...YOU SHOULD AVOID DRIVING
ALONE. MAKE SURE THAT YOU LET SOMEONE...A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND...
KNOW YOUR TRAVEL PLANS...INCLUDING YOUR TIMETABLE AND PRIMARY AND
BACKUP ROUTES.

THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO STAY INSIDE AND MONITOR THE LATEST ON
THIS WINTER STORM ON YOUR FAVORITE RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION OR ON
NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS.

$$

VALLIER-TALBOT

[Stephanie]

Created a "Sticky" for this topic due to the dangerous situation we're facing.

Thanks for posting this Persepone!

[JenyEliza]

This thread definitely, definitely, calls for being a "sticky".

Please, S2Ker's. If you're in the path of this storm...take all precautions and be safe. Snow is pretty...but it can be dangerous, and we need you here to report in!! We Southerners are living this Blizzard vicariously through your posts!!

So...stay safe, warm, take lots of pics...and POST 'EM!!