Prepare to stay warm if the power goes out in your winter wonderland.

The freezing rain, ice, and snow of winter storms topple trees and knock down power lines. 

Be ready with these power outage preparedness tips from The Ready Campaign:

• Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include a flashlight, batteries, water, food, prescription medication, cash, first aid supplies, and extra clothing, blankets or sleeping bags to stay warm.
• Have alternative charging methods for your phone or any device that requires power. For more information, visit Get Tech Ready.
• If you rely on anything that is battery-operated or power dependent like a medical device, determine a backup plan. For more planning tips, visit Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs.
• Locate the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener and know how to operate it.
• Keep your car’s gas tank full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
• If you use your car to re-charge devices, do NOT keep the car running in a garage, partially enclosed space, or close to your home. This can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Close off unused rooms to consolidate and retain heat.
• The power may be out for a prolonged period. Plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat.
• Only use generators outside, away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage or connect it to your home’s electrical system. For more information, visit the Generator Safety page of the Department of Energy.

Visit Ready.gov for more tips on how to prepare for a Winter Power Outage.  

It does not have to be freezing for hypothermia to set in.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), hypothermia can occur at temperatures above 40°F. Rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water can cause it.

Know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect you or someone you know may be suffering from hypothermia .

Warnings Signs of Hypothermia

Adults:

• Body temperature below 95 degrees
• Uncontrollable shivering
• Exhaustion
• Confusion, fumbling hands
• Memory loss, disorientation
• Incoherence, slurred speech
• Drowsiness

Infants:

• Bright red, cold skin
• Very low energy

If someone is suffering from hypothermia, get medical attention immediately and begin warming the person until help arrives. Find several ways to warm a person on the CDC’s Hypothermia page.

If you must go outside, prevent hypothermia by:

• Wearing several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
• Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
• Cover all of your body. Wear a hat and a scarf, covering your mouth to protect your face and to help prevent loss of body heat.

For more information on how to prepare for the winter, visit the Prepareathon Winter Storm section.

Prepare your business with the new toolkits and videos from Ready Business.

Organizations and their staff face a variety of hazards. The Ready Business program helps organizations plan for these hazards.

The Ready Business Toolkit series includes hazard-specific versions. The following versions include step-by-step guides in English and Spanish to build preparedness within an organization.

• Earthquake “QuakeSmart” Toolkit
• Hurricane Toolkit
• Inland Flooding Toolkit
• Power Outage Toolkit
• Severe Wind/Tornado Toolkit

The Ready Business videos, available in English and Spanish, briefly explain several key parts of getting ready, such as:

• Staff/Employee Management;
• Physical Surroundings;
• Physical Space;
• Building Construction;
• Systems; and
• Community Service.

Download and view these new resources at www.ready.gov/business.