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American Red Cross
of Central New Jersey
American
Red Cross www.redcross.org
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A GUIDE TO SURVIVAL
Prepare
For A Winter Storm
Winter's
Impact
Winter
Precipitation
Impact
By Regions of the United States
What
Makes a Winter Storm?
Winter
Storms Deceptive Killers
When
Caught in a Winter Storm
The
Difference Between an Advisory and a Warning
Dress to Fit the
Season
Winter Storm Links
Prepare For
A Winter Storm
___ Stock
disaster supplies to last several days to a week for yourself and those who live
with you. This includes having nonperishable foods, stored water, and an ample
supply of prescription and nonprescription medications that you regularly use.
See Your Family
Disaster Supplies Kit for
suggestions.
___ As you
would in preparation for a storm of any kind, have some extra cash or
traveler’s checks on hand in case electronic transactions involving ATM cards,
credit cards, and the like cannot be processed.
___As
you would in preparation for any storm, keep your automobile tanks above half
full.
___In
case the power fails, plan to use alternative cooking devices in accordance with
manufacturer's instructions. Don't use open flames or charcoal grills
indoors.
___Have
extra blankets, coats, hats and gloves to keep warm. Please do not plan to
use gas-fueled appliances, like an oven, as an alternative heating source.
The same goes for wood-burning or liquid-fueled heating devices that are not
designed to be used in a residential structure. Camp stoves and
heaters should only be used out of doors in a well-ventilated area.
If you do purchase an alternative heating device, make sure it is approved for
use indoors and is listed with the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
___Have
plenty of flashlights and extra batteries on hand. Don't use candles
for emergency lighting.
___Examine
your smoke alarms now. If you have smoke alarms that are hard-wired
into your home's electrical system (most newer ones are), check to see if they
have battery back-ups. Every fall, replace all batteries in all smoke alarms as
a general fire safety precaution.
___Be
prepared to relocate to a shelter for warmth and protection during a prolonged
power outage or if for any other reason local officials request or require that
you leave your home. Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for
information about where shelters will be available.
___ If you
plan to use a portable generator,
connect what you want to power directly to the generator; do not connect the
generator to your home’s electrical system. Also, be sure to keep a generator
in a well-ventilated area—either out-side or in a garage, keeping the door
open. Don’t put a generator in your basement or any-where inside your home.
The
American
Red Cross
helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond
to emergencies. We’re in your neighborhood every day, providing
disaster preparedness information and teaching classes in first aid and other
lifesaving skills, to help keep families like yours safer. For more information,
please contact the American
Red Cross of Central New Jersey at 609-951-8550.
Winter's Impact
Storms with Strong Winds
Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven
snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold fronts can knock
down trees, utility poles, and power lines. Storms near the coast can cause coastal flooding and beach erosion as
well as sink ships at sea. In the West and Alaska, winds descending off the mountains can gust to 100 mph or more
damaging roofs and other structures.
Extreme Cold
Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause
frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. What
constitutes extreme cold and its effect varies across different areas of the United States. In areas unaccustomed to
winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered "extreme cold." Freezing temperatures can cause
severe damage to citrus fruit crops and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly
insulated or without heat. In the north, below zero temperatures may be considered as "extreme cold." Long cold
spells can cause rivers to freeze, disrupting shipping. Ice jams may form and lead to flooding.
Ice Storms
Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication
towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for days while utility companies work to repair the extensive
damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
Heavy Snow Storms
Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and
disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock down trees
and power lines. In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and unprotected livestock may be lost.
In the mountains, heavy snow can lead to avalanches. The cost of snow removal, repairing damages, and loss of
business can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.
Winter Precipitation
Snow
FLURRIES - Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that is
expected.
SHOWERS - Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is
possible.
SQUALLS - Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be
significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes region.
BLOWING SNOW - Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting. Blowing
snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
BLIZZARD - Winds over 35 mph with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility to near zero.
Sleet
Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and
does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
Freezing Rain
Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees,
cars, and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard.
Winter Regions
From the Mid-Atlantic Coast to New England...The classic storm is called a Nor'easter. A low pressure area off
the Carolina coast strengthens and moves north. Wind-driven waves batter the coast from Virginia to Maine,
causing flooding and severe beach erosion. The storm taps the Atlantic's moisture-supply and dumps heavy snow
over a densely populated region. The snow and wind may combine into blizzard conditions and form deep drifts
paralyzing the region. Ice storms are also a problem. Mountains, such as the Appalachians, act as a barrier to cold
air trapping it in the valleys and adjacent low elevations. Warm air and moisture moves over the cold, trapped air.
Rain falls from the warm layer onto a cold surface below becoming ice.
Along the Gulf Coast and Southeast...This region is generally unaccustomed to snow, ice, and freezing
temperatures. Once in a while, cold air penetrates south across Texas and Florida, into the Gulf of Mexico.
Temperatures fall below freezing killing tender vegetation, such as flowering plants and the citrus fruit crop. Wet
snow and ice rapidly accumulate on trees with leaves, causing the branches to snap under the load. Motorists are
generally unaccustomed to driving on slick roads and traffic accidents increase. Some buildings are poorly
insulated or lack heat altogether. Local municipalities may not have available snow removal equipment or
treatments, such as sand or salt, for icy roads.
In the Midwest and Plains...Storms tend to develop over southeast Colorado in the lee of the Rockies. These
storms move east or northeast and use both the southward plunge of cold air from Canada and the northward flow
of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to produce heavy snow and sometimes blizzard conditions. Other storms
affecting the Midwest and Plains intensify in the lee of the Canadian Rockies and move southeast. Arctic air is
drawn from the north and moves south across the Plains and Great Lakes. Wind and cold sometimes combine to
cause wind chill temperatures as low as 70F below zero. The wind crosses the lakes, tapping its moisture and
forming snow squalls and narrow heavy snow bands. This is called "lake-effect snow."
From the Rockies to the West Coast...Strong storms crossing the North Pacific sometimes slam into the coast from
California to Washington. The vast Pacific provides an unlimited source of moisture for the storm. If cold enough,
snow falls over Washington and Oregon and sometimes even in California. As the moisture rises into the
mountains, heavy snow closes the mountain passes and can cause avalanches. The cold air from the north has to
filter through mountain canyons into the basins and valleys to the south. If the cold air is deep enough, it can spill
over the mountain ridge. As the air funnels through canyons and over ridges, wind speeds can reach 100 mph,
damaging roofs and taking down power and telephone lines. Combining these winds with snow results in a blizzard.
In Alaska...Wind-driven waves from intense storms crossing the Bering Sea produce coastal flooding and can drive
large chunks of sea ice inland destroying buildings near the shore. High winds, especially across Alaska's Arctic
coast, can combine with loose snow to produce a blinding blizzard and wind chill temperatures to 90F below zero!
Extreme cold (-40F to -60F) and ice fog may last a week at a time. Heavy snow can impact the interior and is
common along the southern coast. With only brief glimpses of the winter sun across the southern horizon, the snow
accumulates through the winter months. In the mountains, it builds glaciers, but the heavy snow accumulations can
also cause avalanches or collapse roofs of buildings. A quick thaw means certain flooding. Ice jams on rivers can
also cause substantial flooding.
What Makes a Winter Storm?
COLD AIR:
below freezing temperatures in the clouds and near the ground are necessary to make snow and/or ice.
MOISTURE:
to form clouds and precipitation. Air blowing across a body of water, such as a large lake or the ocean, is an
excellent source of moisture.
LIFT:
something to raise the moist air to form the clouds and cause precipitation. An example of lift is warm air colliding
with cold air and being forced to rise over the cold dome. The boundary between the warm and cold air masses is
called a front. Another example of lift is air flowing up a mountain side.
Winter Storms Deceptive
Killers
People die in traffic accidents on icy roads.
People die of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.
Winter Deaths
Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The actual threat to you depends on your specific situation.
Recent observations indicate the following:
Related to ice and snow:
About 70% occur in automobiles.
About 25% are people caught out in the storm.
Majority are males over 40 years old.
Related to exposure to cold:
50% are people over 60 years old.
Over 75% are males.
About 20% occur in the home.
COLD
FROSTBITE
Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by that tissue being frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white
or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected,
get medical help immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas. However, if the person is
also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.
HYPOTHERMIA: LOW BODY TEMPERATURE
Warning signs - uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred
speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.
Detection - Take the person's temperature. If below 95F (35C),immediately seek medical care! If medical care is
not available, begin warming the person slowly. Warm the body core first. If needed, use your own body heat to
help. Get the person into dry clothing, and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give
the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food; warm broth is better. Do not warm extremities (arms
and legs) first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure.
WIND CHILL
The wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by combined effects of wind and cold. As
the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature.
Animals are also affected by wind chill.
AVOID OVEREXERTION, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold
and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.
When CAUGHT in a Winter Storm...
OUTSIDE
Find shelter:
Try to stay dry. Cover all exposed parts of the body.
No shelter:
Prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection from the wind.
Build a fire for heat and to attract attention.
Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
Do not eat snow: It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.
IN A CAR OR TRUCK
Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat:
Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
Make yourself visible to rescuers:
Turn on the dome light at night when running engine.
Tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door.
Raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and
sto keep warm.
AT HOME OR IN A BUILDING
Stay inside. When using ALTERNATIVE HEAT from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.:
Use fire safeguards. Properly ventilate.
No heat:
Close off unneeded rooms. Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors. Cover windows at night.
Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished
with fluids to prevent dehydration. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to
avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.
KEEP AHEAD OF THE STORM by listening to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, and television for the latest winter storm watches,
warnings, and advisories.
The Difference
Between an Advisory and a Warning
WINTER STORM WATCH:
Severe winter conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice, are possible within the next day or two.
Prepare now!
WINTER STORM WARNING:
Severe winter conditions have begun or are about to begin in your area. Stay indoors!
BLIZZARD WARNING:
Snow and strong winds will combine to produce a blinding snow (near zero visibility), deep drifts, and
life-threatening wind chill. Seek refuge immediately!
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY:
Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconveniences and may be hazardous.
If caution is exercised, these situations should not become life- threatening. The greatest hazard is
often to motorists.
FROST/FREEZE WARNING:
Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause significant damage to plants, crops, or
fruit trees. In areas unaccustomed to freezing temperatures, people who have homes without heat
need to take added precautions.
DRESS TO FIT THE SEASON.
Wear loose-fitting, light-weight, warm clothing in several layers. Trapped air insulates.
Layers can be removed to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent,
and hooded. Wear a hat. Half your body heat loss can be from the head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from
extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry.
Information from:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Weather Service
Warning and Forecast Branch
November 1991
For other
winter storm links, please CLICK HERE.
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