02/17/2021
From the VA Department of Emergency Management:
PREPARE this Evening for the significant ICING, snow, and sleet expected for Thursday❗️ Unfortunately, this storm is expected to impact the area's hardest hit from the last storm. 🧊
Once again, widespread power outages, significant tree damage, and travel disruptions are expected. Forecasts can change quickly. Continue to monitor the forecast for your area and sign-up for alerts and warnings! Have multiple ways to get information, such as mobile apps, TV, radio, social media, family, etc.) 📱
Charge your devices! Take inventory of what you need that relies on electricity, especially for medical reasons. 🔌
Restock your emergency supply kits with bottled water, nonperishable food, flashlights, extra batteries, blankets, portable phone chargers, and other needs specific to your family. 🔋
Prepare your home. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing; keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping; and install and test smoke alarms and CO detectors with battery backups. 🏡
If travel is essential, make sure your car is prepared. Keep an emergency supply kit in your car. Include jumper cables, flares, ice scraper, blanket, phone charger, map, masks, soap, sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, cat litter, or sand. 🎒
Once again, we STRONGLY encourage you to stay home once the winter weather starts. But if travel is essential, please follow these driving safety tips: Know before you go by checking 511virginia.org; give yourself more time; slow down; increase your following distance; avoid using cruise control, and don't crowd the plows. 🚗
Bring your pets inside. They get cold, too! 🐶
If you’re using portable heaters, know how to safely use them: https://bit.ly/3dmMYKc. Keep the heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people. 🔥
In case you lose power, know how to safely use a portable generator: https://bit.ly/3dmMYKc. Never use a portable generator in your home or garage. Keep them at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents. ‼️
If you lose power, unplug electronics and appliances, don’t use a gas stove to heat your home, and keep your refrigerator and freezer closed. Don't use candles for emergency lighting. Instead, use flashlights. 🔦
Here are tips to stay warm when the power is out: https://bit.ly/2Ngdomb.
More safety and preparedness tips can be found at:
➡️ vaemergency.gov/winter-weather
➡️ ready.gov/winter-weather
➡️ weather.gov/winter
(For relevant winter safety social media graphics that you can share with your followers and friends, please visit this thread: https://bit.ly/37mbIyD)