Health & Safety

January 2007

Preparing for Severe Cold and Other Natural Disasters

• VWC supports Emergency Fair
• Alert sent by SLV Disaster Planning Committee when cold struck

An excellent summary of how to prepare your household in case of a severe cold (most of which would help in any natural disaster) came via email from Copper Resnick, Volunteer Coordinator of Mountain Community Resources.  Copper is Chair of the SLV Disaster Planning Committee, which was co-founded by the VWC at the urging of then-Supervisor Fred Keeley, to bring all the public and private agencies of the Valley together to coordinate for a disaster before one might happen. VWC Board Member, Sherry Skold is the current VWC liaison to the committee.  The VWC Board approved a $500 donation to the committee to support the production of a second Emergency Planning Fair, scheduled for October this year.  (The first was in Spring 2006.)  Copper and Sherry wanted all VWC members to review their own preparedness, and here is Copper’s list from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, to help you in that task.

Preparing your home and family:

• Review and update of your family emergency plan.

• Replenish your emergency supply kits, including battery-operated radio and flashlights.

• Have extra blankets on hand.

• Have a plan for meeting the needs of infants, children, seniors and those with disabilities.

• Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters, repair roof leaks, and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.

• Move family pets indoors or to an enclosure out of the elements.  Likewise, protect livestock or other large animals from the cold weather.

• Move plants indoors or cover with blankets or plastic to prevent freezing.

• Maintain a sufficient supply of heating fuel.

• Insulate pipes during cold weather to avoid freezing.

• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as people sometimes turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.

• Do NOT bring heating devices into the home that are intended for outdoor use, such as barbecues and other cooking equipment or other fuel burning devices. These items can produce deadly carbon monoxide.

• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).

• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow – or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

Traveling with caution:

• Have your car winterized and make sure it is working properly.

• Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread.

• Augment your car’s emergency supply kit with a shovel, windshield scraper and blankets.

• Maintain at least a half-tank of gas during the winter season.

• Check road conditions before departing.

• Let others know of your route and your estimated time of arrival.

Recognizing symptoms of exposure:

• Confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and shivering are signs of hypothermia. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

• Gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy skin are symptoms of frostbite. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

• In the case of overexposure to freezing temperatures, remove wet clothing and immediately warm the body with a blanket or warm fluids like soup or cider.  Avoid alcohol.

©2007 Valley Women's Club