Emergency Preparedness / 2023 / January
January 2023 Message
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Happy New Year! Even though the cold snap we just experienced is on the way out and hurricane season is over, the worst winter weather in NC tends to happen in January and February. Rather than huge snowstorms, we tend to get freezing rain and ice, making it dangerous to travel. The best emergency preparedness for winter storms is to prepare to be able to stay home and not drive for a few days, should the need arise. Here are a few ways to prepare for winter storms in North Carolina:
Have at least a week's supply of food. At the thought of snow or ice, shoppers tend to empty the grocery store shelves of bread and milk, so it's good to always be thinking ahead and have the food that you will need for the next week or so purchased in advance. Not having to rush to the store will also keep you off the icy roads. If you have a supply of food storage already, a winter storm is a great time to use it for a few days. Remember to also have a supply of your medications and other daily needs, such as pet food, on hand as well.
Plan for power outages. In our area of NC, it is common for snow and/or ice to build up on trees, causing them to fall on power lines or across roads. Your electricity could go out for a few days. Think of the things in your home that you use every day that would not work without electricity. Plan to have emergency backups for those things. For example:
flashlights, candles, or solar powered lamps in place of electric lights
charged batteries for everything that can run on battery power instead of electricity
a portable charger or solar powered charger for your cellphone
a crank-powered or solar powered radio in place of tv for entertainment & news
a camp-stove or charcoal grill for cooking outdoors instead of on an electric stove
extra blankets or sleeping bags in case you have no heat in your home
Please remember that you must vent a kerosene or propane space heater or camp-stove to the outdoor air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
If everything in your home is run on electricity and/or you have medical devices that need electricity to work, a generator might be a good thing to consider purchasing.
Learn how to drive on ice and snow. Despite the best preparation, you may not be able to stay home completely during a winter storm, but it's important to be cautious on the roads during an ice storm or snow event. While the roads may get brined ahead of a storm to help with ice, there are often not enough snowplows to quickly clear the roads, and freezing rain or melted snow that re-freezes may leave treacherous icy patches on the road that can be hard to see. Only drive if you absolutely need to. Here is some great info from the NCDOT on how to drive safely in winter weather, as well as great suggestions on what supplies to have in your car in case of emergency.
We hope for an uneventful winter, but it's always best to be prepared.
Stay safe!
Holly & Chris Earls
Stake Emergency Preparedness Coordinators