Safety Steps You Should Follow as Massive Winter Storm Threaten Millions

Weekend storm will drop snow and ice from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast;
travel will be extremely difficult; significant power outages expected

A massive winter storm is poised to bring heavy snow and ice to most of the eastern half of the country this weekend, starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, burying the southern Plains, South, mid-Atlantic and Northeast states.

Millions of people could see extremely heavy snow, as much as two feet in some areas. In the South, where winter storms are somewhat rare, the threat of heavy ice is forecast from Texas to the East Coast.

The American Red Cross is preparing for the storm by organizing volunteer teams to open warming centers/shelters if needed and prepping our Disaster Action Teams to respond remotely if necessary. Travel will be extremely difficult and significant power outages are expected, so it is important that everyone gets ready now. And don’t forget your pets ─ visit here to get information on keeping them safe in cold weather.

Following are steps those in the path of the storm can follow to help them stay safe:

WINTER SAFETY:

• Stay warm indoors. If your home becomes too cold, go to a public library, shopping mall or warming center.
• Use care with space heaters and fireplaces to prevent fires. Keep anything that could catch fire at least 3 feet from the heat. Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Find more information on how to heat your home safely here.
• If you must go outside, wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, hat, mittens and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth.
• Be careful walking on snow or ice and avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. If possible, work with a partner and take frequent breaks.

POWER OUTAGE:

• During a power outage, unplug appliances and electronics. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored. Use flashlights or battery-operated lanterns — not candles — to help avoid fires. Don’t drive unless necessary. roads could be congested. Check with loved ones and neighbors to see if they need help.
• Food Safety. Keep food cold. When in doubt, throw it out. Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to help keep food cold. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Throw out perishable food that has been warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

GENERATOR DO’S AND DON’TS

• Never use a generator inside. This also goes for grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devices. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents. Carbon monoxide kills. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away. Keep the generator dry and plug appliances directly into the generator. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.

FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA

• Areas first affected by the cold include your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes. Signs of frostbite include pain, numbness or a change in skin color. Signs of hypothermia, which can be deadly, often include shivering, confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech. Act fast and get out of the cold immediately if you see signs of hypothermia or frostbite. Get emergency medical care right away.

FROZEN PIPES

• Pipes that freeze most frequently are outdoor lines, pipes in unheated interior areas like basements and crawl spaces, attics, garages, or kitchen cabinets, and pipes that run against exterior walls that have little or no insulation. Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Remove, drain, and store hoses. Close inside valves supplying outdoor hose bibs. Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
  
  

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.