Winter Storm Preparedness

Transcription

1 Winter Strm Preparedness

2 Winter strms are events that can affect all cmmunities within the Reginal Municipality f Wd Buffal. Envirnment Canada tracks weather systems t mitigate their ptential effects, but winter strms can strike with little ntice and can ptentially threaten life and prperty. When a winter strm happens, visit Envirnment Canada s website and listen t lcal media fr severe weather warnings and advice. As pwer utages can happen during winter strms, remember t keep a battery r crank-pwered radi n-hand. We als encurage peple t sign up t receive Alberta Emergency Alerts, which are issued t prvide the public with critical infrmatin abut an immediate disaster, where it is ccurring and what actin yu need t take. Visit emergencyalert.alberta.ca fr mre infrmatin. Yu can greatly lessen the impact f a winter strm by taking time t prepare in advance by fllwing the 3 Steps t Emergency Preparedness which are: Knw the risks. Make a plan. Get a kit. In the event f an emergency, please check the fllwing fr up-t-date infrmatin: RMWB website: rmwb.ca Facebk: Reginal Municipality f Wd Buffal Recrded message Emergency Management Htline: Acknwledgements: ATCO Electric, Envirnment Canada, Public Safety Canada

3 Step 1: Knw the Risks (and get prepared) T get prepared fr a winter strm, yu shuld knw the risks specific t yur cmmunity and yur regin. T find the hazards in yur regin, visit the Knw the Risks sectin f the GetPrepared.ca website. The fllwing list f actins can be cmpleted t get prepared and knw what t d in the event f a winter strm: Befre: Clean gutters, drains and dwnpipes. Make sure yur rf is in gd cnditin. Trim dead branches and/r cut dwn dead trees t reduce the danger f them falling nt yur huse during a winter strm. When a winter strm is imminent an Alberta Emergency Alert may be issued with recmmendatins n actins t take. Envirnment Canada will issue weather warnings. Radi and lcal televisin statins will als bradcast Envirnment Canada weather statements. Secure everything that may be blwn arund (such as lawn furniture and/r garbage cans) as they may injure peple r damage prperty. During a winter strm: If yu are indrs during a winter strm, stay away frm windws, drs and fireplaces. If indrs, use a cellular r crdless telephnes as it is nt safe t use crded telephnes. If a pwer utage ccurs, d the fllwing: Check yur main electric panel and breaker. If yu mve a tripped switch t the ff psitin and then t the n psitin, yu may restre pwer. Turn ff r unplug appliances r equipment. Sensitive equipment, electrnics and appliances shuld be unplugged during an utage and re-plugged after pwer has been restred. Preserve heat, where pssible. Clse blinds r curtains and avid pening drs t keep heat frm escaping. D nt use utdr barbeques, kersene r camping heaters indrs as they emit carbn mnxide. If yu are advised by lcal fficials t evacuate, d s immediately. Take yur emergency kit with yu. If yu are in a car, stp the car away frm trees r pwer lines.

4 If yu are in car and it gets stuck, d the fllwing after calling fr help: Blizzards Remain inside the vehicle and pen ne windw slightly n the sheltered side fr fresh air. Run the engine fr 10 minutes every half hur. Befre running the engine, check the exhaust pipe t ensure that it is nt blcked with snw, as carbn mnxide fumes d nt have an dur. Blizzards cme in a wave f cld arctic air, bringing snw, bitter cld, high winds and lw visibility due t blwing snw. Blizzards culd last a few hurs t several days. A wind chill warning may be issued when very cld temperatures (-35 C r clder) cmbined with wind culd create utdr cnditins hazardus t human activity. A wind strm warning may als be issued when winds are expected t reach a steady speed f between km/hr r km/hr in gusts. Blizzards may leave heavy snwfall that can cause rf failures r cllapses. Blizzard Tips If a blizzard r heavy blwing snw are frecast, yu may want t string a safety line between yur huse and ther structures in case yu have t g t them during the strm. Stay indrs if pssible. If yu must g utside, dress fr the weather. Outer clthing shuld be tightly wven and water-repellent. Jackets shuld have hds. Wear mittens, as they are warmer than glves and a hat, as a lt f bdy heat is lst thrugh the head. D nt try t walk t anther building unless there is a rpe t guide yu r smething yu can fllw. If yu must travel, d s during the day and let smene knw yur rute and arrival time.

5 Ice Strms Freezing rain ccurs when raindrps fall frm a warm layer f air int air that is belw freezing and becme supercl. When the super-cled drplets strike a surface belw 0 C they freeze instantly, which frms a layer f ice. Ice, branches r pwer lines can cntinue t break and fall fr several hurs after the end f the precipitatin. Ice Strm Tips If yu must g utside when a significant amunt f ice has accumulated, pay attentin t branches r wires that culd break due t the weight f the ice and fall n yu r yur vehicle. Never apprach pwer lines. A hanging pwer line may be charged (live) and yu culd be electrcuted. Stay back at least 10 metres frm wires r anything in cntact with them. When freezing rain is frecast, avid driving if pssible. Even a small amunt f freezing rain can make rads very slippery. Wait several hurs after freezing rain ends s that rad maintenance crews have time t spread sand n icy rads. Step 2: Make a plan Every husehld needs an emergency plan. It will help yur husehld knw what t d in case f an emergency. Als, remember that yur husehld may nt be tgether when a winter strm (r anther emergency) happens. Here are sme suggestins t guide yu thrugh yur planning: Discuss what culd happen and what yu shuld d at hme, schl r wrk if a winter strm strikes. T be prepared, make a list f what needs t be dne ahead f time. Chse tw meeting places in the event that nt everyne is tgether when the strm hits: ne meeting place in yur neighburhd, and ne in yur cmmunity. Write dwn imprtant cntact phne numbers. Fr husehlds with children, be familiar with schl emergency prcedures. Stre imprtant dcuments such as birth certificates, passprts, insurance, wills, and financial dcuments in a fire/waterprf cntainer. Identify an apprpriate ut-f-twn cntact that can act as a central pint f cntact fr everyne in yur husehld during an emergency. Write dwn and exercise yur plan at least nce a year. Make sure that everyne has a cpy and keeps it accessible.

6 Step 3: Get a kit In an emergency, yu will need sme basic supplies. Yu may need t get by withut tap water r pwer. Be prepared t be self-sufficient fr at least 72 hurs (three days). Make sure that yur kit is easy t carry. Optins fr a kit cntainer include a backpack, duffel bag r suitcase with wheels. Yur emergency kit shuld be kept in an easyt-reach, accessible area, such as yur frnt hall clset. Make sure everyne in yur husehld knws where the emergency kit is. Husehld Emergency Kit Water (six litres per persn). Include small bttles that can be carried easily in the event f an evacuatin rder. Fd that wn t spil such as canned fd, energy bars and dried fds. Remember t replace fd and water nce a year. Manual can pener. Crank r battery-pwered flashlight (and extra batteries). Crank r battery-pwered radi (and extra batteries). First aid kit. Extra keys fr yur huse and car. Sme cash in smaller bills. Cpies f yur emergency plan, imprtant dcuments and cntact infrmatin Special items such as prescriptin medicatins, infant frmula, r equipment fr peple with disabilities. Remember t replace medicatin nce a year

7 Vehicle emergency kit Water (in plastic bttles s they wn t break if frzen) Fd that wn t spil Blanket Extra clthing and shes First aid kit (with seatbelt cutter) Cpy f yur emergency plan and dcuments Small shvel, scraper and snwbrush Candle in a deep can and matches Wind-up flashlight Whistle (in case yu need t attract attentin) Radmaps Keep the fllwing items in yur trunk Sand, salt r nn-clumping kitty litter Tw rpe Fire extinguisher Antifreeze/windshield wiper fluid Jumper cables Warning light r rad flares Emergency Preparedness Resurces Municipal Reginal Municipality f Wd Buffal, rmwb.ca/emergency Prvincial Alberta Emergency Management Agency, aema.alberta.ca/ Natinal Public Safety Canada, getprepared.ca Canadian Red Crss, redcrss.ca St. Jhn Ambulance, sja.ca Envirnment Canada, weather.gc.ca/canada_e.html

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