| FORT LEE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |
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| Stephen M. Ferraro Coordinator Fort Lee Office of Emergency Management 201-592-3500 ext 1512 |
| Preparedness Information |
| Electrical Outages & Home Safety (click on above for link and then click onto Family Preparedness and then Power Outages) |
| Winter Storms & Extreme Cold While the danger from winter weather varies across the country, nearly all Americans, regardless of where they live, are likely to face some type of severe winter weather at some point in their lives. Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain. One of the primary concerns is the winter weather's ability to knock out heat, power and communications services to your home or office, sometimes for days at a time. Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the “Deceptive Killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold. It is important to be prepared for winter weather before it strikes. To prepare for a winter storm you should do the following: •Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit: •Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products. •Sand to improve traction. •Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment. •Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. •Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm. •Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency. •Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions. •Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle. •Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water. ***************************************************************************** During Winter Storms and Extreme Cold •Stay indoors during the storm. •Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways. •Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside. •Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. •Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately. •Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible. •Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts. •Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route. •If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate). •Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects. •Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms. •If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF. |
| The first line of defense against the effects of a disaster is personal preparedness. During an emergency, the government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all citizens to make their own emergency plans and prepare for their own care and safety in an emergency. |
This registration Web site allows residents with special needs and their
families, friends and associates an opportunity to provide information to
emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better
plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.
The information collected here is confidential and will not be available to
the public. The information will be held securely and only used for
emergency response and planning.
Please be as complete as possible in your responses. You will be
contacted occasionally to ensure the information is correct and to make
any necessary changes.
Why should you register?
families, friends and associates an opportunity to provide information to
emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better
plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.
The information collected here is confidential and will not be available to
the public. The information will be held securely and only used for
emergency response and planning.
Please be as complete as possible in your responses. You will be
contacted occasionally to ensure the information is correct and to make
any necessary changes.
Why should you register?
- To be notified by local officials when an evacuation has been
ordered. - IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!
| For Registry Assistance, dial 211 (toll free) and an operator will assist you in registering. |
| Current Weather |
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| As of Wednesday February 8, 2012 This Afternoon: A chance of snow, mainly after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight: A chance of snow before 1am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming west between 4 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 47. West wind between 5 and 11 mph. Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 30. West wind between 5 and 7 mph. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind between 6 and 13 mph. Friday Night: A slight chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday: A chance of snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. |