THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALONG WITH THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY  MANAGEMENT AGENCY AND THE IOWA HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY  MANAGEMENT DIVISION HAVE DECLARED THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH AS WINTER  WEATHER AWARENESS DAY IN NEBRASKA AND IOWA.

WEDNESDAY: WINTER SURVIVAL KIT….

DURING THE WINTER IN THE HOME, YOU SHOULD HAVE AVAILABLE EXTRA FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE, BABY ITEMS AND FIRST AID SUPPLIES. HIGH ENERGY FOOD THAT REQUIRES NO COOKING OR REFRIGERATION IS BEST. MAKE SURE CELL PHONES ARE CHARGED, HAVE A BATTERY POWERED RADIO AND/OR TELEVISION, FLASHLIGHTS, LANTERNS AND EXTRA BATTERIES.

MAKE SURE THERE IS AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF HEATING FUEL AND HAVE AN EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE SUCH AS A FIREPLACE, WOOD STOVE OR SPACE HEATER. HAVE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND SMOKE DETECTORS AND KEEP THEM IN WORKING ORDER. FIRE DEPARTMENTS MAY HAVE TROUBLE RESPONDING DURING AND AFTER A WINTER STORM.

YOUR VEHICLES SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED FOR WINTER STORM CONDITIONS. FULLY WINTERIZE AND CHECK YOUR VEHICLE INCLUDING THE BATTERY, HEATING SYSTEM AND BELTS. KEEP THE GAS TANK AS FULL AS POSSIBLE. HAVE A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT IN VEHICLES, INCLUDING BLANKETS, SHOVEL, HIGH CALORIE NON PERISHABLE FOOD, FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES, FIRST AID KIT, KNIFE, TOWELS, SAND, TOW ROPE, WINDSHIELD BRUSH AND SCRAPER AND BOOSTER CABLES. HAVE A MEANS OF TWO WAY
COMMUNICATION SUCH AS A CELLPHONE OR CB RADIO.

CHECK THE LATEST FORECASTS AND ROAD CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU START YOUR TRAVEL. USE GOOD JUDGEMENT IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO START OR CONTINUE YOUR TRIP. AVOID TRAVEL IF AT ALL POSSIBLE DURING SEVERE  WINTER WEATHER. …REMEMBER… NO TRIP IS A “MUST” TRIP. NO FAMILY GATHERING, JOB OR APPOINTMENT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.