Winter Weather Awareness Week 2010 - Safety rules for your home

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
600 AM CST FRI NOV 19 2010

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS IN THE MID SOUTH...

NOVEMBER 15TH THROUGH 19TH IS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN THE MID SOUTH. PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO TAKE SOME TIME AND PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER SEASON.

TODAYS TOPIC IS WINTER WEATHER SAFETY RULES FOR YOUR HOME.

THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE A WINTER STORM IS TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE HAZARDS OF WINTER WEATHER. ALTHOUGH SOME WINTER STORMS DEVELOP QUICKLY AND WITH SHORT NOTICE... MOST EVENTS CAN BE PLANNED FOR.

AT HOME... THE PRIMARY CONCERNS ARE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF POWER... HEAT AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. FOOD SUPPLIES MAY ALSO RUN LOW IF CONDITIONS PERSIST FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SOME ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE AROUND THE HOME PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF WINTER WEATHER INCLUDE...

-EXTRA FOOD AND WATER...ESPECIALLY CANNED GOODS
-A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES
-FIRST-AID SUPPLIES AND EXTRA MEDICINE
-EXTRA BABY ITEMS
-EXTRA WOOD FOR EMERGENCY HEATING
-A BATTERY POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND PORTABLE RADIO

IF POWER IS LOST... NEVER USE A GASOLINE OR DIESEL POWERED GENERATOR INSIDE THE HOUSE... IN THE GARAGE... OR ANY OTHER ENCLOSED SPACE. GENERATORS CAN CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE TO BUILD UP TO DEADLY LEVELS IN ENCLOSED SPACES. OPERATE SUCH GENERATORS OUTDOORS ONLY.

ANOTHER WINTER THREAT IS HOUSE FIRES. DECEMBER... JANUARY... AND FEBRUARY ARE THE LEADING MONTHS FOR HOUSE FIRES IN THIS COUNTRY. MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF FIRE DEATHS TYPICALLY OCCUR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

HERE ARE SOME PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE...

-CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS SHOULD BE KEPT IN PROPER WORKING
ORDER. THIS INCLUDES REGULAR INSPECTIONS.
-SPACE HEATERS NEED TO BE AT LEAST 36 INCHES AWAY FROM ANY
FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. THE HEATERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ON
WHEN NO ONE IS PRESENT OR WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP. THE
HEATERS SHOULD HAVE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF SWITCHES THAT TURN
THE UNIT OFF IF IT TIPS OVER.
-FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND CLEANED ON
A REGULAR BASIS. THE FIREPLACES SHOULD HAVE A STURDY SCREEN...
AND ONLY WOOD SHOULD BE BURNED.
-WOOD STOVES SHOULD BE INSTALLED...USED...AND MAINTAINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. USE OF
A STOVE BOARD WILL PROTECT THE FLOOR. ONLY WOOD SHOULD BE
BURNED IN THE STOVE.
-KITCHEN RANGES AND OVENS... CHARCOAL GRILLS... AND HIBACHIS
SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR HEATING.
-CARBON MONOXIDE IS ANOTHER HAZARD. IT IS A COLORLESS...
ODORLESS GAS AND IS PRODUCED BY GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES...
CHARCOAL GRILLS... AND WOOD-BURNING FURNACES AND FIREPLACES.
CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO PROVIDE AN
EARLY WARNING WHEN THE GAS BEGINS TO BUILD UP.

$$