Oh, the weather outside is frightful

With the first polar vortex arriving this December, and temperatures already plunging into the single digits and below, winter has arrived without much warning. With winter’s grand entrance, what can Huntley residents do to cope with sudden snow and cold? Whether it’s what to pack in your car or how to stock your home, both the Huntley Fire Department and the Neighborhood watch have some answers.

On winter preparedness:

“We advise don’t travel unless you absolutely need to. And if you, please let a relative or a close neighbor know where you’re going so they know where to look for you if you go missing.”

“Always make sure to have a fully charged cell phone in your vehicle.”

“Keep your car well-maintained. Keep a first aid kit, blanket, some protein bars, and water in your car.”

“Regardless of the weather, keep emergency contact information and a list of medicines you take in your glove box, in case you’re involved in an accident.”

“We try to keep our advice simple. Clear and salt your driveway to prevent you from falling. Make sure your emergency information is up to date with your block captain. The block captain maintains an emergency list of all residents on their block.” Each resident should have the name, number, and email address of their block captain.

“Make sure your furnace has been serviced and is in working order.”

“Store two to three days of food and water in your home in case you get snow-bound.”

“Slow down and watch out for black ice. Watch out for blowing and drifting snow on roadways.”

“Try to always be aware of what’s going on when you’re walking and driving.”

Vito Benigno
Vice President of NHN/Neighborhood Watch

---

Information from Huntley Fire Department

Communication Checklist

Make sure you have at least one of the following in case there is a power failure:

— Cell phone, portable charger, and extra batteries.
— Battery-powered radio, with extra batteries, for listening to local emergency instructions
— National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio receiver for listening to National Weather Service broadcasts. Learn more about NOAA Weather.

Listen to emergency broadcasts.

Make a Family Communication Plan! Your family may not be together during an extreme winter event, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together, and what you will do during an emergency.

Be sure to check on older neighbors and family members; assist as necessary.

Know what winter storm warning terms mean:

Winter Weather Advisory: Expect winter weather condition (e.g., accumulation of snow, freezing rain, and sleet) that could cause severe inconvenience and life-threatening hazards.

Frost/Freeze Warning: Expect below-freezing temperatures.

Winter Storm Watch: Be alert; a storm is likely.

Winter Storm Warning: Take action; the storm is in or entering the area.

Blizzard Warning: Seek refuge immediately! Snow and strong winds, near-zero visibility, deep snow drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.

Heating Checklist

Turning on the stove for heat is not safe; have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out:

— Extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm winter coats
— Fireplace with plenty of dry firewood or a gas log fireplace
— Portable space heaters

Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and non-glowing elements.

Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.

Never leave children unattended near a space heater.

Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture and drapes.

Have the following safety equipment:

— Chemical fire extinguisher
— Smoke alarm in working order (Check prior to winter storm season and change batteries, if needed.)
— Carbon monoxide detector (Check prior to winter storm season and change batteries, if needed.)

Never use an electric generator indoors, inside the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Do not use the generator or appliances if they are wet.

Do not store gasoline indoors where the fumes could ignite.

Use individual heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords to plug in other appliances.

Cooking and Lighting Checklist

Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns.

Never use charcoal grills or portable gas camp stoves indoors. The fumes are deadly.

Avoid using candles as these can lead to house fires. If you do use candles, never leave lit candles alone.

Food and Safety Checklist

Have a week’s worth of food and safety supplies. If you live far from other people, have more supplies on hand. Make sure you have the following supplies:

— Drinking water
— Canned/no-cook food (bread, crackers, dried fruits)
— Non-electric can opener
— Prescription drugs and other medicine
— First-aid kit
— Rock-salt to melt ice on walkways
— Supply of cat litter or bag of sand to add traction on walkways
— Flashlight and extra batteries or battery-powered lamps or lanterns

(To prevent the risk of fire, avoid using candles.)

Home Water Checklist

Keep a water supply. Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes break.

Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.

Keep the indoor temperature warm.

Allow more heated air near pipes. Open kitchen cabinet doors under the kitchen sink.

If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.

If you cannot thaw your pipes, or if the pipes have broken open, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor’s home.

Know how to shut off the water to your house in the event of broken waters pipes.

Car and Emergency Checklist

Minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keep the following in your vehicle:

— Cell phone, portable charger, and extra batteries
— Shovel
— Windshield scraper
— Battery-powered radio with extra batteries
— Flashlight with extra batteries
— Water
— Snack food
— Extra hats, coats, and mittens
— Blankets
— Canned compressed air with sealant for emergency tire repair
— Road salt and sand
— Booster cables
— Bright colored flag or help signs
— First aid kit
— Tool kit

Lt. Eric Bentley
Huntley Fire Protection District

---