Catawba County News
Winter Ready
Published: January 03, 2025
Why should you be #WinterReady?
· 63% of temperature related deaths are attributable to cold exposure.
· Home heating is the 2nd leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen.
· Travel during the winter has unique risks, especially if you travel by car.
Being Winter Ready means understanding winter risk you face and taking steps now to prepare.
STAY INSIDE or Limit your time outside. Be sure to dress in layers, cover your skin and limit time outside. Outdoor activities, like shoveling snow can be very strenuous and can increase your risk for a cardiac event. Know your limits, take frequent breaks. Learn how to prevent and know the signs of frostbite & hypothermia.
STAY HOME or take extra precautions if you must travel. Roads may be icy or even blocked by downed power lines or fallen trees. Stay off the roads during and after the storm to reduce the chance of being in a collision or getting stranded in your car. Ensure you have a Vehicle Emergency Kit.
SAFELY USE HOME HEATING and PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) POISONING.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, test them monthly and replace ones that are more than 10 years old.
1. Keep anything that can burn AT LEAST 3 FEET AWAY from fireplaces, wood stoves, space heaters or radiators.
2. Turn off or unplug heaters when you leave the room or go to bed.
3. Plug heaters directly into an outlet and never use an extension cord or power strip.
4. Make sure your heater has an automatic shut-off switch that turns it off if tipped over.
5. Have your furnace or chimney inspected by a professional each winter. Install a carbon monoxide detector and test it monthly.
1. Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home.
2. Make sure gas, oil or coal burning appliances are vented properly and have them serviced by a qualified technician each year.
3. Never use a generator inside your home or garage. They should be more than 20 feet from doors, windows or vents.
STAY INFORMED & SAFE. Entire communities can be without power for days or weeks. Be prepared before that happens and make good decisions during and after the storm. 1. Listen to local TV & Radio stations for weather forecast and register for Catawba County Community Alerts. 2. Make an Emergency Kit with enough supplies for 3 days.
3. If you heat your home with propane, fuel oil or even a wood stove, top off tanks or stock up before a storm hits.
4. Prep your home for the cold. Apply caulk or weather stripping to doors or windows that do not seal properly. Consider adding more insulation to attics or crawl spaces. Take steps to prevent pipes from freezing. Click here for a short video on preventing pipes from freezing.
Print this FEMA Fact Sheet to display at your home or office and be #WinterReady.