Winter weather can bring heavy snow, icy streets and sidewalks, dangerous wind chills, and power outages.

Be Ready. Make a Plan. Get what you need.

• Areyouandyourfamilypreparedforwinteremergencies?• Ifyouhadtostayinyourhomeforafewdays,wouldyouhavewhat

youneedtostaysafe,comfortableandhealthy?• Ifyouhadtoleaveyourhomesuddenly,withouttimetopackanything,

wouldyoubereadytogo?

The time to start planning for an emergency is not in the middle of one. In an emergency, you’re either READY or you’re not.

For more information on how to get READY, visit www.phila.gov/ready or email us at oem@phila.gov.

www.phila.gov/ready Follow us on Twitter: @PhilaOEM

Be Ready.

Make a Plan.

Get what you need.

WinterEmergencyKit................2KeepYourBodyWarm...............2WhenYou’reOutside.................3SnowShovelingSafetyTips.......3ShovelingSnowFromSidewalks....................................4PetsandColdWeather...............5HomeHeatingSafetyTips......6-7MakeYourHomeWinterReady..........................................7

KeeptheWaterFlowing.........8HeatingBillHelp......................8CarbonMonoxidePoisoning..9WinterWeatherWords.........10GetYourVehicleReady..........11DisruptiontoUtilityServices..................................12SnowEmergencyInfo......13-15StayInformedDuringSnowandIceStorms.......................16

Table of Contents

Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia

A Winter Weather Guide

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Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia page2/WinterTips

Winter Emergency Kit

qOnegallonofdrinkingwaterperperson perdayforthreedays

qFoodthatwillnoteasilyperish;ready-to- eatfoods

qManualcanopener

qFirst-aidkit

qAthree-daysupplyofessential medications

qFlashlightandextrabatteries

qBattery-operatedAM/FMradioandextra batteries,orawind-upradiothatdoesnot requirebatteries.

qPhonethatdoesnotrelyonelectricity,butjustplugsintoaphonejack

qAwhistletosignalforhelp

qPersonalhygieneitems,suchashand sanitizer,soap,toothbrushandtoothpaste, toiletpaper,andwipes

qChildcaresuppliesorotherspecialcare items

qPlasticsheeting,scissors,ducttape

qTrashbagsandothertools

Also consider other supplies and equipment based on your special needs, such as:

qBack-upmedicalequipment(oxygen,scooterbattery,mobilityaids,hearingaidsandbatteries,glasses).qSuppliesforpetsandserviceanimals

Items for Your Emergency Kit:

Yourage,yourhealth,youreatinganddrinkinghabits,andyourclothingallcontributetohowwarmorcoldyoufeel.Checkonchildrenandseniors,especiallyincoldweather.

Herearesometipsforkeepingwarm:

• Setyourthermostatto68˚Forhigher.• Dressinseverallayers.Wearloose

fitting,lightweightclothing.• Ifyouhavenoheatbecauseofapower

outage,trytostaywithafriendorrelative.

Hypothermiaisalife-threateningconditionwithabnormallylowbodytemperature.Dependingonageandhealth,apersonmightnotrealizehisorhercorebodytemperaturehasfallendangerouslylow.

Symptoms of Hypothermia include:• Uncontrollableshivering• Confusionorsleepiness• Slurredspeech• Slowreactions

If You Suspect Hypothermia:

• Getthevictimtoawarmroomorshelter.

• Removeanywetclothing.• Warmthecenterofthebodyfirst,so

bloodcirculationwillincreasetotheextremities.

• Givethevictimwarmdrinks,butnoalcohol.

• Getmedicalhelpassoonaspossible.

Keep Your Body Warm

If there is a bad storm, you might not be able to leave the house for a few days.

• Checkyouremergencykitsuppliesnowbeforeastormhits.• Makesureyouhaveenoughfood,water,andmedicationsfor

atleastthreedays.• Remindeveryoneinyourhouseholdthatthesesuppliesarefor

emergenciesonly.• Checkexpirationdatesonfood,bottledwater,batteries,and

medicine.

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Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia

Dress warmly in layers and stay dry. Wearhats,scarves,andwater-repellentcoats.Wearmittensinsteadofgloves;they’llkeepyourhandswarmer.

Cover your mouth.Protectyourlungsfromextremelycoldairbycoveringyourmouth.

Wind Chill makesyougetcolderfaster,asthewindcarriesawayheatfromthebody.Makesuresmallchildrenstaywarm-especiallybabies.Babieswillgetcoldermuchfasterthanadultswill.

Frostbiteisfrozenbodytissue,usuallyskin.Itaffectstheextremitiesfirst:fingers,toes,ears,andthetipofthenose.

Symptoms of frostbite include:

• Theskinmightlosefeeling.• Theskinmaylookwhite,pale,hardorwaxy.• Astheareathaws,skinmayturnred,blueor

purple.• Skincanalsoswellorblister.• Thevictimmayalsofeeltingling,burningorsevere

painasthefrostbittentissuethaws.

Childrenlosebodyheatfasterthanadultsdo,sotheycangetfrostbitefaster.

If You Suspect Frostbite:

• Getthevictimtoawarmroomorshelter.• Givethevictimwarmdrinks,butnoalcohol.• Removeanywetclothing.• Don’twalkonfrostbittenfeetortoes.Doingso

cancausemoredamage.• Warmtheaffectedareasinwarm(nothot)water,

orwithwarmblankets.• Don’trubfrostbittenskin.• Don’tuseaheatingpad,heatlamp,orheatfroma

stove,fireplaceorradiatortowarmthefrostbittenareas.Numbbodypartscan’tfeeltheheat,andcangetburned.

• Ifskincolorandfeelingdon’treturntonormalquickly,getmedicalhelpassoonaspossible.

When You’re Outside

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• Avoidoverexertion.Coldweatherputsanaddedstrainontheheart.Takefrequentrestbreaksanddrinkplentyoffluidstoavoiddehydration.

• Warmupwithsomestretchingexercisesinside.

• Startslowlyandpaceyourself.Shovelfiveloadsonlyaminute.After15minutesofshoveling,takeabreak.Pausetostretcheveryfiveminutesbystandingupstraight.

• Pushthesnow.Don’tlift.Ifyoumustlift,useyourlegsnotyourback.

• Drinkduringbreakstoavoiddehydration.Breathingcolddryairrobsmoisturefromyourbodywitheverybreath.

• Neverthrowsnowoveryourshoulder.Twistingcanstraintheback.Facethesnowbeingshoveled,keepyourbackstraightandkneesbentandthrowinfrontofyou.

• Dresswarmlyinlayerswithahat.Coveryourneck.

• Takesmallerscoopsofsnow,keepingthemlightandsmall.

• Don’tworkupasweat.Bodiesloseheatfasterindampclothes,whichmakesyoumorepronetoinjury.Takeabreakifyou’rebeginningtosweat.

• Don’tsmokeoreataheavymealbeforeshoveling.It’sharderontheheart.

• Don’tholdyourbreath;thismakesyourheartrateandbloodpressurerise.

Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

• Don’tfeelthejobhastogetdoneinonesession.

• Doclearsnowinfrontoffirehydrantsandstormdrainswhenclearingsidewalksanddriveways.

• Remembertohelpyourneighbors,especiallyolderadults,peoplewithdisabilities,andthosewhoarehousebound.

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Owners,buildingmanagers,andtenantsofanybuildingorpremisemustclearapathatleast36incheswideonallsidewalksaroundthebuilding.Remembertomakeapathwithinsixhoursafterthesnowstopsfalling.Thoroughlyclearthepathoficeandsnow.

Ifapavementislessthanthreefeetfromthepropertylinetothecurb,clearapaththatisatleast12incheswide.Formultifamilydwellings,theowneroragentisresponsibleforshovelingaclearpathandkeepingitclearoficeandsnow.

Keepsnowclearedfromsidewalksanddrivewaysoutofthestreet.Shovelingandpilingsnowintothestreetcanresultinaminimumfineof$25andupto$300foreachviolation.

Salting Sidewalks and Driveways

Anycommercialdeicer,suchasthosesoldinhardwarestoresandsupermarkets,isokayforsaltingsidewalksanddriveways.

Applysaltassoonasthereisalightbuildupofsnowonsidewalksanddriveways.Itwillbeeasiertoshovellaterifmoresnowfalls.Aftershovelingadditionalsnowthatfalls,applyalightamountofsalt,again.Thiswillmeltanymoresnowthatfalls.Whenitissleetingorfreezingrain,applydeicingsaltmultipletimes,asneeded,onsidewalksanddriveways.

Beawareoftheenvironment.Usedeicingsaltssparingly.Onepoundofsaltcovers100to200squarefeet.Youcantreatasidewalkthatis30to60feetlongandthree-feetwideatthisrate.Spreadthedeicingsaltmanuallyoruseequipment,suchaslawnseedandfertilizerspreaders.Rinsespreadersafterapplyingthedeicer.Youcanusekittylitteralsotomaketemporarytraction.

Shoveling Snow from Sidewalks

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Pets and Cold Weather

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers these to tips to help you protect your pets when the mercury dips.

Call ACCT Philly hotline at 267-385-3800 if you see a dog or other pet outside during extreme cold. It is against City ordinance to leave pets outside in extreme cold and owners can be fined up to $500.• Keepcatsinside.Catscanfreezeoutdoors.Theycan

becomelost,bestolen,injuredorkilled.Cats,whostray,getinfectiousdiseases,includingrabies,fromothercats,dogs,andwildlife.

• Duringthewinter,outdoorcatsmaysleepundercarhoods.Whenyoustartthemotor,thefanbeltmayinjureorkillthecat.Ifoutdoorcatsareinyourarea,bangloudlyonthehoodbeforestartingtheenginesothecatcanescapesafely.

• Neverletyourdogofftheleashonsnoworice,especiallyduringasnowstorm.Dogscanlosetheirscentandbecomelost.MakesureyourdogalwayswearsIDtags.

• Thoroughlywipeoffyourdog’slegsandstomachwhenhecomesinoutofsleet,snow,orice.Hecaningestsalt,antifreezeorotherpotentiallydangerouschemicalswhilelickinghispaws.Snowandencrustedicemaycauseyourdog’spawpadstobleed.

• Nevershaveyourdogdowntotheskininwinter.Alongercoatprovidesmorewarmth.Dryyourdogcompletelyafterbathing,especiallybeforetakinghimoutforawalk.Doyouownashorthairedbreed?Consideracoatorsweaterwithahighcollarorturtleneck.Itshouldcoverthebaseofthetailtothebelly.

• Neverleaveyourdogorcataloneinacarduringcold

• Doesyourdogspendalotoftimedoingoutdooractivities?Increasehissupplyoffood,particularlyprotein,tokeephim—andhisfur—intip-topshape.

• Likecoolant,antifreezeisalethalpoisonfordogsandcats.Besuretocleanupanyspillsfromyourvehicle.Useproductsthatcontainpropyleneglycolinsteadofethyleneglycol.

• Makesureyourpethasawarmplacetosleep,offthefloorandawayfromdrafts.Acozydogorcatbedwithawarmblanketorpillowisperfect.

weather.Ananimalcanfreezetodeathinanunheatedcar.

• Puppiesdon’ttoleratethecoldaswellasadultdogs.Itmaybedifficulttohousebreakyourpuppyduringwinter.Ifyourpuppyissensitivetotheweather,trytopaper-trainhiminside.Ifyourdogissensitivetothecoldduetoage,illness,orbreedtype,takehimoutdoorsonlytorelievehimself.

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• Furnaces,boilers,hotwaterheaters,andclothesdryersshouldbeworkingproperly,andventilated.Haveaprofessionalinspectthemregularlytopreventcarbonmonoxidepoisoning.

• Useelectricheaterswithextremecautiontopreventshock,fire,andburns.NEVERuseakeroseneheaterindoors.

• Keepitemsatleastthreefeetfromheatsources,tohelppreventfire.

• Neveruseagasovenorburnertoheatyourhome.

Heaters

• Haveyourheatingsysteminspectedandservicedbeforetheheatingseasonbegins.

• Keeptheareaaroundtheunitclearandcleanfiltersregularly.

• Makesurethatfluepipes,ventconnectors,gasvents,andchimneysareinspected,cleaned,andingoodrepair.

Fireplaces

• Alwaysopentheflueinyourfireplacebeforelightingafire.

• Onlyburnhardwoodssuchasoak,maple,orashinfireplaces.

• Ifyouusesyntheticlogs,burnonlyonelogatatime.Duetotheirconstruction,theselogsproduceahotterflamethanmostfirewood.

• Neveruselighterfluid,gasoline,orotherflammableliquidstostartorenhanceafire.

• Chimneysshouldbeprofessionallyinspectedeachyearandcleanedafterburningapproximatelyonecordofwood.

• Useametalscreenproperlytopreventsparksfromflyingout.

Home Heating Safety Tips

page6/WinterTips

ManyfiresandemergencieshappeneveryyearinPhiladelphiabecauseoffaultyheatingunits.CalltheDepartmentofLicensesandInspectionsat215-686-2463forafireinspectionifyouareunsurewhetheryourheatsourceissafe.

Ifyourentanddonothaveheat,contactyourbuildingowner.Ifyourheatdoesnotcomebackonwithinareasonabletime,contacttheDepartmentofLicensesandInspectionsat215-686-2463.

(continued on next page)

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Home Heating Safety Tips (continued)

Portable Heaters

• ThePhiladelphiaFireCodepermitstheuseofportablekeroseneheatersinoneandtwofamilydwellingsonly.

• Portablepropaneheaterscanbeusedoutdoorsonly.

• Whenpurchasinganewportableheater,selectthosewiththemarkofanindependenttestinglaboratory.

• Useandmaintaintheheaterbyfollowingmanufacturer’sinstructions.

• Keepheateratleast36inchesawayfromanything,includingfurniture,bedding,clothing,pets,andpeople,thatcanburn.

• Turnoffspaceheaterswhenyouarenotintheroom.

• Childrenandpetsshouldbesupervisedatalltimeswhenspaceheatersareinuse.

• Onlyusespaceheaterstoheataroom.Neverusethemtocookfood,dryclothes,orheatwaterforhumidification.

• Alwayskeepportableheatersawayfromtheentrancetorooms,incaseyouneedtogetoutquickly.

• Useonlythefuelrecommendedbythemanufacturer.Useonlyanapprovedcontainerclearlymarkedwiththenameofthefuel.

• Alwaysrefillkeroseneheatersoutsidewhentheunitiscool.Useasiphonpumptopreventspills.

• Neverplaceheatercordsundercarpetingorfurniture.

• Don’tuseextensioncordswithelectricheaters.Ifyoumustuseanextensioncord,onlyuseaproperlyratedextensioncordthatdoesn’tgethotwheninuseatthehighestsetting.

• Alwayshaveaworkingsmokealarmandcarbonmonoxidedetectorinroomswhereyousleep,especiallywhenusingportableheaters.Testthesmokealarmandcarbonmonoxidedetectortomakesuretheyareworkingproperly.

• Insulatewallsandattics.

• Caulkandweather-stripdoorsandwindows.

• Installstormwindowsorcoverwindowswithplasticfromtheinside.

• Inspectchimneysandfireplaces.

• Alwaysrungeneratorsoutside.Openwindowsandfansdonotprovideenoughventilationtopreventcarbonmonoxidebuild-up.

Make Your Home Winter Ready

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Avoidexpensiveplumbingrepairs,costlydamagetopersonalpropertystoredinunheatedareas,andkeepthewaterflowingfreelyinyourhomeinthewinterbyfollowingtheseeasy-to-dotipstomaintainhomewatersystems:

• Shutoffoutsidewaterfaucetsfromtheinsidevalves.Todrainthesefaucets,leavetheoutsidevalvesopen.

• Keeptheareaaroundyourwatermeterabove40degreesFahrenheit.

• Wrapyourwatermeteranditsconnectingpipewithinsulation.

• Caulkwindowsnearwatermetersorpipes.Coverthesewindowswithplastic.

• Replaceorcovercrackedorbrokenwindows.

• Wrapandinsulateallwaterpipesinunheatedareassuchassheds,underkitchenfloors,andingarages.

• Letwatertrickleovernightinextremelycoldweathertokeepyourpipesfromfreezing.

• Ifthewaterservicelineorotherinternalpipesfreezeorbreak,callaplumbertothawthefrozenwaterintheservicelineortorepairthedamagedorbrokenpipe.

Keep the Water Flowing Heating Bill Help

Ifyourincomeislimited,youmayqualifyforhelpwithyourgasorelectricheatingbill.

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance) ProgramTheLIHEAPprogramcanhelpyoupayyourhomeheatingbill,whetheryouownorrentyourhome.Call215-560-1583togetanapplication.

PECO’s Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Services (CARES)

CallPECO’s1-800-774-7040CARESlinetofindoutifyouqualifyforassistancewithyourheatingbill.