Protect yourself, family and neighbors by taking the following steps:
1. Assemble an emergency supply kit.
Assembling an emergency supply kit (link is external) both at home and in your car during winter can save your life if there is a severe winter storm or extreme cold.
2. Check on your neighbors.
Isolated or elderly individuals can be unaware of rapidly changing weather conditions and may not be able to sense and respond to low temperatures during winter.
3. Protect yourself from extreme cold.
Protect yourself by wearing loose layers of clothing underneath a wind and weather resistant coat. Look for symptoms of hypothermia including shivering, exhaustion, confusion, and slurred speech.
4. Keep furnace exhausts clear.
With the extreme cold, furnace exhausts can become blocked or freeze up as the warmth of the house meets the extreme cold temperatures. Make sure all furnace, dryer, and boiler vents are clear. Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector and it is working!