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Winter storm awareness can save lives, property

Posted Online: 11/5/02

Winter Hazard Awareness Week is Nov. 4-8. Its goal is to increase awareness of winter hazards and to encourage citizens to take appropriate actions to eliminate or reduce their vulnerability to winter dangers.

Winter storms can be accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding, wind-driven snow, severe drifting and dangerous wind chill. These strong winds can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines.

Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Heavy snow can collapse buildings and knock down trees and power lines. in rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days.

Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires and telephone poles. Communications and power can be lost for days. Any amount of ice can cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

Prolonged exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening.

A winter Storm watch is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) 12 to 48 hours prior to a heavy snow of 6 inches or more or an ice storm. A winter storm warning is issued when a winter storm is occurring or expected within a few hours.

A blizzard warning is issued when falling or blowing snow limits visibility to less than 1/4 mile and wind speeds are greater than 35 mph. During a watch you should make preparations or a storm.

During a warning you should be taking appropriate shelter and limit traveling so as to not become stranded. During a blizzard warning travel is NOT advised. Stay in appropriate shelter and wait for conditions to improve. If stranded in a vehicle during a blizzard -- stay in your vehicle.

For local weather awareness reports and bulletins, listen to WQPM (Q106), Princeton, 106.1 FM; or KBEK, Mora, 95.5FM.

For more information on winter storms, call Jim Rostberg, Director, Isanti County Emergency Management at (763)689-3591.