Winter Storms

Last week's bout of winter snow and ice served as a good reminder to prepare yourselves and your family for possible winter storms. La Niña weather patterns have experts calling for cooler temperatures and higher precipitation levels in the Pacific Northwest (read: more snow and ice). Keep these key points in mind to be safe:

• Keep your home disaster kit stocked in case bad winter weather strikes. Visit Build a Kit for more information. Remember to include pet supplies in your disaster kit!
• Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing and wear mittens/gloves and a hat that covers your ears.
• Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and for traction in snow and ice.
• Minimize travel and keep a small disaster supplies kit in your car. At minimum keep spare blankets, flashlights and fresh batteries, tire chains, and signaling equipment (light sticks, flares, or reflective triangles) in your car. Handwarmers, bottled water, and granola bars are a good addition as well.
• Replace smoke alarm batteries if you didn't do so during the time change.
• Visit the Winter Storm Safety Checklist for more information.