Timely preparation, including measures to avoid the impacts of severe winter weather, can help avert a tragedy. Experts agree that the following measures can be effective in dealing with the challenges of severe weather. Monitor your NOAA Weather Radio or local radio and/or TV station for updated weather information. Pay close attention to forecasts and media updates about incoming severe winter weather.
In rural areas, prepare for isolation at home. Make sure you can survive a few days to a week at home in case a storm isolates you and makes it impossible for you to leave home.
In the case of heavy snow or blizzard conditions, make sure your home exhaust pipes are not iced over or covered in snow.
FOOD
Stock an emergency supply of food and water. It’s a good idea to have an alternative cooking source, however, make sure it is used in a well-ventilated area.
EMERGENCIES
You can summon emergency assistance during a community power outage causing loss of telephone service by going to your nearest fire station. Fire department personnel can help with the emergency medical problem or fire. They will have radio contact to summon ambulance and law enforcement.
Primary concerns are loss of power, heat, telephone, and supplies. Have available:
Flashlight and Batteries
Battery-Powered Radio
Extra Medicines
Extra Baby Supplies
First-Aid Kit
Simple Tool Kit
Candles or Lantern
Several Lightweight Blankets
In a cold house, dress warmly using several layers of loose-fitting clothing to trap body heat. Because the body loses between half or three-quarters of its heat through the head, wear a hat even when sleeping.
Pets and animals need food and water, too. They also need to be protected from the weather. Plan to care for your pets and animals as you would for yourself.
Keep yourself and family updated on weather conditions. Even a few hours’ notice will help you and your family better cope with severe winter weather.
Winter can be an enjoyable season, but we must be prepared for its hazards. Taking action now can make your winter safe and comfortable.
WINTER TRAVEL
Keeping your vehicle in top operating condition all year round is important, but it is especially important in the winter months. Winter driving conditions may vary from day to day or even mile to mile. Having your vehicle ready for winter travel can help you avoid situations that are unpleasant or even life threatening. Battery, lights, ignition system, fan/blower motors, brakes, wiper blades, tire tread as well as the fuel, cooling and exhaust systems all should be inspected in the fall.
Always try to keep the fuel tank as full as possible to help reduce water in the fuel. This will also be to your advantage in case you get caught in a storm.
Travel only if necessary. Avoid long trips if you can.
Don't be daring or foolhardy. Even good, conscientious drivers can get caught by a winter storm! Use common sense.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL DURING A STORM:
PLAN YOUR ROUTE AHEAD OF TIME. Select a primary and alternate route. Monitor and keep abreast of the weather before and during your trip. Knowing the forecast will help avert surprises.
TRAVEL WITH A COMPANION IF POSSIBLE. Make sure someone at your destination knows your schedule. If you get stranded, notify them of your status as soon as possible.
TRAVEL DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND DRIVE ONLY AS FAST AS CONDITIONS ALLOW. If the storm exceeds your driving ability, look for a safe refuge immediately.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU:
Alternative heat source such as heat packs
Food (high calorie non-perishable; i.e., canned nuts, hard candy, dried fruit, etc.)
First-Aid Kit W/ Pocket Knife
Flashlight and Extra Batteries
Keep extra clothes, hats, boots, winter coats in your vehicle during winter months.
Shovel
Tow Strap
Jumper Cables
Tools (pliers-screwdriver-adjustable wrench)
Phone charger
IF A BLIZZARD TRAPS YOU IN YOUR CAR:
STAY WITH THE VEHICLE. Your chance of survival is greatly improved. Disorientation in a blizzard comes quickly. Many people have left their car seeking other shelter only to be found a short distance away.
AVOID OVEREXERTION AND EXPOSURE. Trying to shovel and push your way through heavy drifts can cause heart attacks in people in good physical condition. Overexposure to the elements may result in hypothermia, a condition which can be fatal.
BE AWARE OF CARBON MONOXIDE, an odorless, colorless gas that can kill unsuspecting motorists. Run the engine for short periods only. Keep a downwind window open for ventilation and check it often. Freezing wet snow and wind-driven snow can completely seal over the passenger compartment. Check the exhaust pipe often to make sure that it is free from obstructions.
Do not permit all occupants of the car to sleep at one time.
KEEP CALM. THINK ALL PROBLEMS THROUGH, DECIDE THE BEST AND SAFEST ACTION, THEN PROCEED SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.
For further information, contact the National Weather Service at their site: Sioux Falls National Weather Service
While thunderstorms affect relatively small areas, all thunderstorms should be considered dangerous despite their small size. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can lead to flash flooding. Strong winds, hail, and tornadoes are also dangers associated with some thunderstorms.
TORNADOES can and have occurred any place in the United States at any time. They are most prevalent in the southern, central and midwestern states during the months of March through August. South Dakota's peak season being from May through July although the Sioux Falls area has seen tornadoes in late summer and early fall.
NOAA Radio
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day. Known as the "voice of the National Weather Service," NOAA Weather Radio is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For a very small cost, you can own a special weather radio that provides instant access to the same weather reports and emergency information that meteorologists and emergency personnel use -- the information that can save your life! Weather radios can be purchased locally at any business selling electronic appliances. They are equipped with a special alarm tone feature that can sound an alert and give you immediate information about a life-threatening situation. During an emergency, National Weather Service forecasters will interrupt routine weather radio programming and send out the special tone that activates weather radios in the listening area.
Weather radios should be standard equipment in every home. Outdoor warning sirens should not be relied on as they are just that, outdoor warning devices.
Warning Sirens
Outdoor warning sirens are placed strategically throughout the City of Sioux Falls as well as the smaller communities of Minnehaha County. It must be noted that these sirens are outdoor sirens to warn the populaces that are outside. They will not and were not designed to reach all areas inside buildings. For indoor warning, people are urged to purchase a weather radio and set your phone to allow emergency alerts.
TESTING -- The sirens are tested monthly. In the City of Sioux Falls, the test is held the first Friday at 11:00 am. The cities in Minnehaha County, the sirens are tested the first Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. Sirens generally tested from April through November.
Many communities experience some kind of flooding after spring rains, heavy thunderstorms, or winter snow thaws. Floods can be slow or fast rising, but generally, they develop over a period of days.
Floodwater can be extremely dangerous. The force of six inches of swiftly moving water can knock people off their feet. The best protection during a flood is to leave the area and go to shelter on higher ground.
Flash floods usually result when intense storms drop large amounts of rain within a brief period. Flash floods occur with little or no warning and can reach full peak in only a few minutes.
Urban flooding can also occur with streets becoming rivers and basements indoor swimming pools.
Before the flood:
Know the elevation of your property in relation to nearby streams and other waterways and make advance plans of what you will do and where you will go in a flash flood emergency.
Keep materials on hand such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber.
Install check valves in building sewer traps to prevent flood water from backing up in sewer drains.
Keep first-aid supplies at hand as well as a stock of food that requires little cooking and no refrigeration.
Keep a portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, lights and flashlights in working order.
For definitions of watches and warnings click here.
When a flash flood watch is issued for your area:
When a flash flood warning is issued for your area:
After the flash flood watch or warning is canceled:
TORNADO WATCH -- Conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Citizens should monitor weather information sources.
TORNADO WARNING A tornado has been sighted, or rotation has been detected on radar. Citizens should seek shelter immediately.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH -- Conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop. Severe thunderstorms can produce wind gusts of 58 mph or greater and/or large hail one inch in diameter or larger.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING -- A severe thunderstorm has been reported by a trained spotter or other reliable source, or it has been detected on radar. Severe thunderstorms can produce wind gusts of 58 mph or greater and/or large hail one inch in diameter or larger.
FLASH FLOOD WATCH -- Conditions are favorable for flash or areal flooding to develop. Citizens should be prepared to act if flooding occurs.
FLASH FLOOD WARNING -- A flash flood has been reported by a trained spotter or other reliable source, or heavy rainfall over a short duration has been detected on radar. Citizens should avoid flooded roads, prepare to move to higher ground, or evacuate the flooded area.
WINTER STORM WATCH -- A winter storm may threaten a specific area but is not imminent.
WINTER STORM WARNING -- A winter storm is imminent or already occurring. Heavy snow or heavy mixed precipitation, sometimes combined with strong winds, will negatively impact daily life and may become life-threatening if proper precautions aren't taken. Regional travel will be hazardous.
BLIZZARD WARNING -- A combination of strong wind and low visibility from falling and/or blowing snow will produce white-out conditions and impossible travel.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY -- Winter weather conditions are imminent or already occurring. Snow or mixed precipitation, sometimes combined with strong winds, will inconvenience daily life and may become hazardous, especially for travel.
FROST/FREEZE WARNING -- Below freezing temperatures are expected and may cause damage to plants, crops, or fruit trees.
ICE STORM WARNING -- An ice storm is imminent or already occurring. Significant ice accumulation will negatively impact daily life and may result in significant damage to trees and power infrastructure.
EXTREME COLD WARNING -- Extreme cold (35 degrees below zero or colder) may become life-threatening if proper precautions aren't taken. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
COLD WEATHER ADVISORY -- Cold weather (25 to 34 below zero) may become dangerous and an inconvenience to daily life. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
