A powerful winter storm is hitting California’s higher elevations over the next several days, bringing as much as 12 feet of snow, powerful winds and blizzard conditions to the region. The American Red Cross is preparing to respond if necessary and offers safety steps for people in the path of this dangerous storm.
The National Weather Service reports the storm will bring life-threatening blizzard conditions to the Sierra Nevada region through the weekend, including as much as 12 feet of snow and possible 100 mph winds. This could lead to numerous power outages and make any travel almost impossible. The storm is related to the latest atmospheric river to hit the West and will also affect many of the mountain ranges in the Pacific Northwest, northern and central California, parts of the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin.
CLIMATE CRISIS As global temperatures increase, the atmosphere can hold more moisture, which can lead to heavier rainfall or snow.
The Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters now compared to a decade ago and is enhancing its large-scale disaster response and recovery services, expanding financial assistance, strengthening local partner networks, and growing our disaster workforce as families and communities struggle with more frequent and intense disasters. Find out more about the Red Cross and its work on the climate crisis here.
RED CROSS GETTING READY The Red Cross has teams standing by to respond if necessary and is monitoring weather conditions with state and local officials to determine what support people may need.
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
FIND A SHELTER If you need a safe place to stay or a hot meal, find open shelters on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) and selecting the disaster option. You can also find shelters by following your local county and city officials on social media or monitoring local news.
BUILD A KIT Officials are advising residents in the Sierra Nevadas and the foothills to prepare for possible power outages and gather emergency supplies ahead of the storm. Build an emergency preparedness kit that you can use at home or take with you if you must evacuate. Include items such as enough water and non-perishable food for each household member (3 days if evacuating or 2 weeks if sheltering at home), a flashlight and extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit and medications.
DOWNLOAD OUR APPS Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
Steps to help you stay safe during this dangerous weather:
Stay indoors and wear layers of loose fitting, lightweight warm clothes.
Check on relatives, neighbors and friends, particularly if they are elderly or live alone.
Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow, pushing a vehicle or walking in deep snow.
Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.
Make sure you have enough heating fuel on hand.
If possible, bring your pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water.
Stay Safe Outside
Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat.
Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from severely cold air.
Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently.
Stretch before you go out. If you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. This will reduce your chances of muscle injury.
Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks.
Travel Safety Drivers are discouraged from attempting to cross the mountain area, but are advised to carry extra food, water and warm clothing if they do attempt it.
Avoid travel if you can. If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation if possible.
Check your vehicle emergency supplies kit and replenish it if necessary.
Bring your cell phone and make sure the battery is charged.
Plan to travel during daylight and, if possible, take another person with you.
Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive.
Before leaving, check the weather reports for all areas you will be passing through.
Watch out for sleet, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and dense fog.
If you are stranded, stay in the vehicle and wait for help. Do not leave the vehicle to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards (91 meters).
Hang a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) on the radio antenna and raise the hood after snow stops falling.
Turn on the engine for about 10 minutes each hour. Use the heater while the engine is running. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and slightly open a downwind window for ventilation.
Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.
If more than one person is in the vehicle, take turns sleeping.
Huddle together for warmth. Wrap yourself in newspapers, maps, and even the removable floor mats to help trap more body heat.
Use flashlights in the dark — not candles.
Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car.
Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment and appliances. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.
Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.
Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Keep these devices outside away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first, then, food from the freezer. If the power outage continues beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.
Don’t forget your pets. You can find winter pet safety steps here.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
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