Virginia’s most serious winter storms are “Nor’easters,” powerful weather systems with high winds that form in the Atlantic Ocean, head west across the Chesapeake Bay, and dump significant amounts of snow from Petersburg to Washington, D.C. In February 2006, a Nor’easter dumped up to 15 inches of snow in northern Virginia, stranding motorists and leaving almost 300,000 customers without power.

“Winter storms often result in power outages, loss of telephone service, icy roads and freezing temperatures,” said Rob Brown, Stafford’s Fire and Rescue Chief. “Now is the time for citizens to winterize their homes, make sure fireplaces and heating systems are in safe working order, and put together disaster supply kits for their homes and vehicles.”

Every family should have a disaster supply kit on hand in case the power goes out or roads are closed due to hazardous driving conditions. The kit should stock enough supplies to last at least three days for each member of the household. Following is a list of basic items to include:

One gallon of water per person per day

Foods that require no refrigeration including canned goods, dried packaged fruits and nuts, and a manual can opener

Battery-powered radio and flashlights, with extra batteries

First aid kit, including extra contact lenses and glasses

A week’s supply of prescription medications

Sanitation supplies including toilet paper, soap, plastic garbage bags and personal hygiene products

Special items for infants, elderly or disabled members of the household

Listen to local radio and television stations for up-to-date information about weather warnings and watches and road closures. Learn in advance of the storm about how businesses, schools and day care centers notify the public about closures and early releases.  

If you lose electricity, call the power company immediately. Keep a traditional, non-cordless telephone available that doesn’t require household electricity to operate. Be sure to keep your cell phone charged for emergency calls. Turn off all major appliances, and keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. If you use a portable generator, set it up outside in a well-ventilated area, away from doors and windows. Make sure the generator is connected to the item being powered. Don’t connect it directly to the home’s circuit breaker.

Have a professional inspect and clean creosote build-up from chimneys and stovepipes if you plan to use fireplaces and wood stoves for heat. Never use highly combustible material such as trash, treated wood or Christmas trees as fuel.

Kerosene space heaters should be used with extreme caution. Follow these safety tips when using these devices indoors to keep warm:

·         Never use gasoline in kerosene heaters

·         Only use 1-K kerosene purchased from a reputable dealer

·         Never fill the fuel tank beyond the full mark – as the fuel warms, it expands and could cause a spill resulting in a fire

·         Refuel the heater outdoors

·         If a flare-up occurs, use the manual shut-off switch to turn the heater off – if the switch does not work, leave the residence immediately and call the fire department

·         Keep kerosene stored outside in a sealed blue container labeled “Kerosene”

The safest place during a winter storm is indoors. Blowing snow and ice on the roadways make driving extremely hazardous. If you must travel during a storm, fill your gas tank before it hits. Tell someone at home or a co-worker where you’re going and when you expect to arrive, and call them when you reach your destination. Keep an emergency kit with these items in your vehicle:

Cell phone                                

Water-proof matches and a small can to melt snow for drinking water

High-calorie foods including protein bars, nuts, beef jerky, candy and dried fruits

Blankets/sleeping bags

Change of clothing and boots

Flashlight with extra batteries

Compass, road maps, booster cables, tow rope, tool kit, pocket knife

Shovel, windshield scraper, sand or cat litter for traction

Large empty can with a cover and paper towels for sanitary purposes

If you become stranded, stay in the car and call for help. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the car’s antenna as a distress signal. Turn on the car’s engine for 10 minutes each hour and run the heater to keep warm. Clear snow away from the exhaust pipe to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from building up in the passenger compartment. At night, turn on the car’s interior light to make it easier for rescuers to find you.

For more information about winter weather preparedness including travel tips and how to assembly a winter car kit, visit www.VAEmergency.com or www.fema.gov.

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