What to do before extreme cold weather hits
Be Informed by receiving alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during, and after emergencies.
Learn how to make a Family Emergency Plan that addresses the needs of your family and prepares your family to safely evacuate or shelter in place.
Assemble an emergency kit.
Prepare your home for possible emergencies. Preparing and strengthening your home can not only protect your property during disasters — it can also add value to your home.
Ensure your vehicle is ready for safe winter driving. Follow safe driving practices if you must travel during winter storms. Winter Weather Driving
Make sure your pets are ready for cold weather: Winter Pet Safety Tips.
What you can do during extreme cold weather
Continue to check the media for emergency information.
Follow instructions from public safety officials.
Reduce outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.
Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your arms, legs, hands and feet. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated.
If you lose heating, move into a single room. At night, cover windows and external doors with extra blankets or sheets.
Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.
If your pipes freeze, open all faucets all the way, remove any insulation, and heat the frozen pipe with a hair dryer or wrap with towels soaked in hot water. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.
Check with your local authorities or Call 2-1-1 to find warming centers or shelters near you.
In the event of a power outage, you may need to take extra precautions or go to an emergency shelter to stay warm.
Know the symptoms of and watch out for cold-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need extra help.
What to look for in cold-related illnesses, Extreme cold can cause cold-related illness, including:
Frostbite is the freezing of the skin and body tissue.
Symptoms — Loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, face, and the tip of the nose.
Treatment — Get the victim into a warm location. Cover exposed skin, but do not rub the affected area. Seek medical attention immediately.
Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature and is life-threatening.
Symptoms — Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, memory loss, and slurred speech.
Treatment — If symptoms of hypothermia are detected take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95°, seek medical attention immediately. Get the victim to a warm location. Remove wet clothing. Warm the center of the body first by wrapping the person in blankets or putting on dry clothing. Give them warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the person is conscious.