Winter Storms

Winter storms occur every year in Oregon. They can range from moderate cold winds and low temperatures to heavy snowfall, freezing rain and icy roads. The good thing about winter storms is that they can be predicted in advance, allowing you to get prepared, and become familiar with what to do before, during and after a storm. 

• Avoid any unnecessary travel. If you have to travel, be sure to have an emergency kit in your vehicle and drive cautiously. Less traffic on the roads will allow first responders and maintenance crews to provide critical services more effectively.
• If you are going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees F.
• Prevent frostbite and hyperthermia. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing. Stay inside if possible.
• Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Make sure livestock are sheltered, and have access to food and water.

• Check your fuse box or circuit breaker box. If there are no blown fuses or tripped circuits, check to see if your neighbors are without power.
• Call your power company to report the outage. Some utilities offer ways to report outages online or by text.
• Turn off all electrical equipment. This includes your water heater, electric furnace or heaters, stove, stereo or TV, etc. This will help prevent overloading the system when the power is restored.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed to minimize food loss.
• If a family member depends on medical life-support equipment, consider using a back-up generator in case of an extended power outage. Be familiar with generator safety:
  
• Use Generators Safely at Home - FEMA.gov
  
• Generator Safety Tips - Red Cross