Kicking Off Winter Weather Preparedness Week.

It is winter weather preparedness week here in Indiana bloggers. Time to go over the check list and make sure everyone is ready to go.

With an El-nino winter like the one we're having, forecasters are expecting us to see a more mild winter with warmer temperatures and below average precipitation. Still with that said it doesn't rule out that possibility of cold snowy weather at times. So we need to be ready!

So today the Indiana department of homeland security and the Red Cross demonstrate that the best way to stay safe from winter weather is to have a disaster plan and an emergency preparedness kit ready. Main concerns are loss of heat and power and also lack of supplies.

Here is a message from the National Weather Service on how to be ready. Take a look. I'll be back with more later.

AT HOME OR WORK... HAVE EXTRA FOOD STOCKED THAT REQUIRES NO REFRIGERATION OR COOKING IN CASE OF POWER FAILURE. HAVE AN EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY IN CASE WATER PIPES FREEZE. HAVE EXTRA BATTERIES AVAILABLE FOR FLASHLIGHTS...RADIOS...SMOKE ALARMS AND CELL PHONES. HAVE EXTRA MEDICINE...FIRST AID...AND ANY SUPPLIES YOU MAY NEED IN CASE YOU ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE HOME FOR A FEW DAYS. HAVE AN ALTERNATE HEATING SOURCE...LIKE A FIREPLACE...WOOD STOVE...SPACE HEATER OR WARM BLANKETS AVAILABLE IN CASE YOUR PRIMARY HEATING SOURCE FAILS. HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CHECK ALL HEATING SOURCES FOR CORRECT OPERATION AND VENTILATION AND FOLLOW ALL MANUFACTURERS OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS. IF YOUR HOME REQUIRES HEATING FUEL OR PROPANE...ENSURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF FUEL IN CASE YOUR SUPPLIER CAN NOT REACH YOU DURING A WINTER STORM. MAKE SURE YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SMOKE ALARMS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. 

ON THE FARM... MOVE YOUR ANIMALS TO SHELTERED AREAS...HAUL EXTRA FEED TO FEEDING AREAS...HAVE WATER AVAILABLE AND KEEP IT FROM FREEZING. MOST ANIMAL DEATHS IN WINTER ARE FROM DEHYDRATION. 

IN VEHICLES... ITEMS TO CARRY SHOULD INCLUDE BOTTLED WATER...BLANKETS OR EXTRA CLOTHING. A FIRST AID KIT...A FLASHLIGHT...NON-CLUMPING LITTER SAND OR GRAVEL TO CREATE TRACTION IF YOUR VEHICLE GETS STUCK... A SMALL SHOVEL...BOOSTER CABLES...AND CANDY BARS ARE GOOD KIT ITEMS AS WELL. YOU MAY WISH TO CARRY PAPER PRODUCTS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES...WATER PROOF MATCHES...A METAL CAN AND CANDLE FOR HEAT AND LIGHT. 

HEED WEATHER FORECASTS AND TAKE ACTION WHEN THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A WATCH...WARNING OR ADVISORY. LET/S BE A WEATHER-READY NATION. ON TUESDAY WE WILL DISCUSS WINTER WEATHER TRAVEL SAFETY. 

VISIT GETPREPARED.IN.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WINTER SAFETY.