Here is today’s story from the National Weather Service, Birmingham:
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
518 AM CST THU NOV 19 2009
..THIS WEEK IS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ALABAMA
ALABAMA GOVERNOR BOB RILEY, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE
ALABAMA STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAVE PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF
NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 20TH, 2009 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS
WEEK IN ALABAMA. WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED
FOR BEING PREPARED FOR THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF A SEVERE WINTER
WEATHER EPISODE.
..TODAY’S TOPIC IS WINTER WEATHER AND YOUR HOME
YOUR HOME SHOULD BE JUST AS PREPARED FOR WINTER AS YOU ARE. WINTER
STORMS CAN QUICKLY BECOME SEVERE, KNOCKING DOWN POWER AND
TELEPHONE LINES. ROADS CAN QUICKLY BECOME TREACHEROUS MAKING IT
DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. HERE ARE SOME TIPS
TO HELP EASE THE HARDSHIPS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY COULD SUFFER WHILE
RIDING OUT THE SNOW AND COLD AT HOME.
BEFORE WINTER’S FURY HITS, MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS WELL INSULATED.
CAULK AND WEATHER STRIP DOORS AND WINDOWS TO HELP KEEP THE HEAT IN
AND THE COLD OUT. INSTALL STORM WINDOWS OR COVER WINDOWS WITH
PLASTIC.
HAVE SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY HEATING EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE SO YOU CAN
KEEP AT LEAST ONE ROOM WARM ENOUGH TO BE LIVABLE IF YOUR FURNACE IS
NOT OPERATING. KNOW HOW TO USE THIS EMERGENCY HEATING EQUIPMENT
SAFELY TO PREVENT A FIRE OR INHALING DANGEROUS FUMES.
STOCK AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY OF FOOD. EVEN IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO
A GROCERY STORE, THEIR SUPPLIES WILL DWINDLE FAST IF ROADS ARE
CLOSED TO SUPPLY TRUCKS. INCLUDE FOODS THAT REQUIRE NO COOKING OR
REFRIGERATION OR HAVE EMERGENCY COOKING FACILITIES IN CASE OF POWER
FAILURE. NATURAL FOODS LIKE RAISINS AND OTHER DRIED FRUIT ARE GREAT
QUICK-ENERGY PRODUCERS.
ALSO, DO NOT FORGET TO STOCK A FLASHLIGHT, A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, A
BATTERY POWERED RADIO AND EXTRA BATTERIES.
SHOULD YOUR FURNACE FAIL, KEEP WATER PIPES FROM FREEZING. WRAP THE
PIPES IN INSULATION MADE ESPECIALLY FOR WATER PIPES OR TIE LAYERS
OF NEWSPAPER AROUND THE PIPES. COVER THE NEWSPAPER WITH PLASTIC
TO KEEP OUT MOISTURE. LET FAUCETS DRIP A LITTLE. ALTHOUGH THIS WASTES
WATER, IT MAY PREVENT FREEZE DAMAGE. KNOW HOW TO SHUT OFF THE
WATER COMING INTO THE HOUSE. AS A LAST RESORT YOU MAY HAVE TO SHUT
OFF THIS MAIN VALVE AND DRAIN ALL THE PIPES TO KEEP THEM FROM
FREEZING AND BURSTING.
DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK FOR HELP IF THE SITUATION AT HOME STARTS TO
GET OUT OF CONTROL. CALL A NEIGHBOR OR A LOCAL SOCIAL OR EMERGENCY
SERVICE AGENCY. WRITE THOSE PHONE NUMBERS DOWN IN ADVANCE AND KEEP
THEM HANDY.
FRIDAYS WINTER WEATHER TOPIC WILL BE WINTER WEATHER SAFETY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
JIM STEFKOVICH
METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BIRMINGHAM, AL
205-664-3010
OR VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BMX.
