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 [email protected].
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
page3/WinterTips
• 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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Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia page4/WinterTips
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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Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia
• 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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Office of Emergency Management, City of Philadelphia page8/WinterTips
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.