It’s time for home winter preparations
BY DALE HOGG
dhogg@gbtribune.com
While travelers bundle up for Thanksgiving excursions, it is also a good time to take stock of household winter preparations.
“Don’t forget to prepare your home for winter weather,” said Amy Miller, Barton County emergency management director. “Have your furnace and fireplace checked and serviced as well as your vehicles.”
If extremely low temperatures are forecast, she said to let water pipes drip to keep them from freezing.
“Now is also a good time to take stock of your home emergency kit and make sure you’re prepared in case you are snowed in without power,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management and adjutant general.
Tafanelli advised Kansans to be prepared by assembling a home emergency kit with supplies for every member of the family for a minimum of three days, including bottled water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable foods, flashlights, batteries, blankets, medications, children’s games and pet food.
And don’t forget to take precautions for your pets,” Miller said. “They need to be protected from the cold, too.”
For a complete list of items for a home emergency kit, go to www.ksready.gov. Additional information on preparing for winter weather is available from FEMA at www.fema.gov, the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org, or your county emergency management office.
Next week Kansas roads will be busy with Thanksgiving holiday travelers going to and from grandmother’s house or other destinations. It is also time to take extra care when hitting the road, local and state safety officials said.
“Due to the fact that we are getting close to Thanksgiving and many individuals may be traveling, I would encourage everyone to check the weather forecast before they leave,” said Amy Miller, Barton County emergency management director. Also, “let someone know when you are leaving and when you expect to arrive at your destination.
She also suggested telling them what route you plan to take. “If something should delay your travel, then your contact person can tell authorities what route you were taking so authorities can check along that route.”
At the state level, the Kansas Highway Patrol will mobilize, along with other law enforcement organizations across the state, to participate in the annual Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). The enforcement program is courtesy of a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
“Once again, the Kansas Highway Patrol will be out on Kansas roadways during the busy holiday,” said Lieutenant Joshua Kellerman, KHP Public Information Officer. “Every year we strive to make our roadways safer, ensuring motorists get to their holiday destinations. Please enjoy the holiday with your loved ones, and make it memorable for all of the right reasons.”
The Patrol and other agencies will focus on impaired drivers, child passenger safety laws, and seat belt use among travelers of all ages. Because of the STEP campaign funding, there will be more law enforcement officers on Kansas’ streets and highways during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period when travel increases in Kansas and across the nation.
According to preliminary KDOT stats, during the 2012 Thanksgiving reporting period, there were 629 collisions, resulting in 203 injuries, and five deaths. Of these crashes, 32 were alcohol related, resulting in 23 injuries, but no deaths.
For 2012, the reporting period was from 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, through midnight Sunday, Nov. 25,. The reporting period for this year will be from 6 p.m. the Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving, through 11:59 p.m. the Sunday following the holiday (Nov. 27-Dec.1).
Before hitting the road for travels, the Patrol encourages motorists to take the following things into consideration:
• Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. Check tires’ tread depth and air pressure; check the vehicle’s fluids, exhaust system, and other mechanical equipment. If traveling in cold conditions, make sure added precautions are taken for the cold weather.
• The vehicle should also be stocked with items that would be beneficial if you were involved in a crash, such as: bottled water, blankets, non-perishable food, first aid kit, and flashlight with extra batteries.
• Make sure to plan your route of travel and communicate this to your family, in case you are involved in a crash or experience mechanical problems with your vehicle.
• Charge your cell phone before you leave in order to make important calls if needed.
• Dress for the weather. If you plan to travel in cold weather make sure you have a coat in the vehicle, and warm shoes in case you need to stop for any reason.
“Everyone also needs to understand that forecasting snowfall amounts is very difficult,” Miller said. If the National Weather Service issues an advisory or warning, be sure to take heed.
“I would also caution everyone to pay attention to wind chill because it can create dangerous and life threatening situations for people and animals if they are outside,” she said.
The Patrol reminds motorists not to drink and drive, and do not let your friends or family drive while impaired. If you consume alcohol, call a friend, family member, or taxi service for a sober ride home.
If travelers are in need of assistance on a Kansas highway, they can dial *47 (*HP) for the Kansas Highway Patrol, or dial *582 (*KTA) on the Kansas Turnpike, and we’ll send someone to assist.
Winter road conditions are also accessible by dialing 5-1-1 from a mobile phone or by going to the Kansas Department of Transportation web site at http://511.www.ksdot.org.
For a complete list of items for a home or car emergency kit, go to www.ksready.gov.
