Today is the first day of winter, and temperatures are predicted to fall by the beginning of next week. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) reminds all Rhode Islanders that it is important to be prepared for winter weather.
"In addition to winter weather hazards like snow and ice, there is the added danger of cold temperatures," said RIEMA Executive Director Theresa C. Murray. "Keeping warm during winter power outages is an additional challenge we face. Now is the perfect time to update your personal emergency kits for winter."
Before a winter storm or extreme cold comes to Rhode Island, you should: • Add winter blankets, warm clothes, hats, scarves, and mittens to emergency kits. • Make sure you always have enough home-heating fuel to last at least a week. (After a storm, fuel carriers may not be able to get to you for several days.) • Make sure you can heat at least one room in your home even if the power or furnace is not available. • Add extra blankets, snow shovel, ice scraper, windshield washer fluid, and a bag of sand or cat litter (for traction) to your car emergency kit. • Make sure your car's tires have enough tread on them. • Make sure your home is properly insulated. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows to keep the cold out. • Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic on the inside. • Insulate water pipes, and know how to shut off water valves. • Consider purchasing and installing a generator in case there is an extended power outage. (Make sure the generator is installed by a certified professional.)
For additional information on winter preparedness, visit www.riema.ri.gov