Subj : Public Information Statem To : ALL USERS From : DARYL STOUT Date : Thu Nov 19 2015 08:47 am PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 600 AM CST THU NOV 19 2015 ....WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS IN ARKANSAS... NOVEMBER 16TH THROUGH 20TH IS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN ARKANSAS. PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING WINTER SEASON. TODAYS TOPIC IS WINTER WEATHER SAFETY RULES. THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE A WINTER STORM IS TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE HAZARDS OF WINTER WEATHER. ALTHOUGH SOME WINTER STORMS DEVELOP QUICKLY AND WITH SHORT NOTICE...MOST EVENTS CAN BE PLANNED FOR. AT HOME...THE PRIMARY CONCERNS ARE FOR THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF POWER... HEAT AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. FOOD SUPPLIES MAY ALSO RUN LOW IF CONDITIONS PERSIST FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SOME ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE AROUND THE HOME PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF WINTER WEATHER INCLUDE... EXTRA FOOD AND WATER...ESPECIALLY CANNED GOODS A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES FIRST AID SUPPLIES AND EXTRA MEDICINE EXTRA BABY ITEMS EXTRA WOOD FOR EMERGENCY HEATING A BATTERY POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND PORTABLE RADIO REMEMBER...IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT...A CORDLESS TELEPHONE WILL NOT OPERATE. A CORDED PHONE WILL CONTINUE TO FUNCTION...SO IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ONE AVAILABLE. IF POWER IS LOST...NEVER USE A GASOLINE OR DIESEL POWERED GENERATOR INSIDE THE HOUSE...IN THE GARAGE...OR ANY OTHER ENCLOSED SPACE. GENERATORS CAN CAUSE CARBON MONOXIDE TO BUILD UP TO DEADLY LEVELS IN ENCLOSED SPACES. OPERATE SUCH GENERATORS OUTDOORS ONLY. TRAVEL SHOULD NEVER BE PLANNED WHEN SEVERE WINTER WEATHER IS ANTICIPATED. HOWEVER...CERTAIN PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN CASE A STORM STRIKES SUDDENLY OR TRAVEL IN BAD WEATHER IS UNAVOIDABLE... WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE FALL KEEP YOUR GAS TANK FULL TO MINIMIZE ICE BUILDUP IN THE TANK ALWAYS CARRY A WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT INCLUDING BLANKETS... FLASHLIGHTS...NON PERISHABLE FOOD...DRINKING WATER... FIRST AID KIT...EXTRA CLOTHES...SHOVEL...ICE SCRAPER... BAG OF SAND OR CAT LITTER AND JUMPER CABLES BEFORE LEAVING...LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND WHAT ROUTE YOU PLAN TO TAKE TRAVELING IN WINTER WEATHER IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. IF THE STORM EXCEEDS OR TESTS YOUR DRIVING ABILITY...SEEK AVAILABLE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. ANOTHER WINTER THREAT IS HOUSE FIRES. DECEMBER...JANUARY...AND FEBRUARY ARE THE LEADING MONTHS FOR HOUSE FIRES IN THIS COUNTRY. MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF FIRE DEATHS TYPICALLY OCCUR DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. HERE ARE SOME PRECAUTIONS YOU CAN TAKE... CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS SHOULD BE KEPT IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. THIS INCLUDES REGULAR INSPECTIONS. SPACE HEATERS NEED TO BE AT LEAST 36 INCHES AWAY FROM ANY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. THE HEATERS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ON WHEN NO ONE IS PRESENT OR WHEN PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP. THE HEATERS SHOULD HAVE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF SWITCHES THAT TURN THE UNITS OFF IF THEY TIP OVER. FIREPLACES AND CHIMNEYS SHOULD BE INSPECTED AND CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE FIREPLACES SHOULD HAVE A STURDY SCREEN... AND ONLY WOOD SHOULD BE BURNED. WOOD STOVES SHOULD BE INSTALLED...USED...AND MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. USE OF A STOVE BOARD WILL PROTECT THE FLOOR. ONLY WOOD SHOULD BE BURNED IN THE STOVE. KITCHEN RANGES AND OVENS...CHARCOAL GRILLS...AND HIBACHIS SHOULD NEVER BE USED FOR HEATING. CARBON MONOXIDE IS ANOTHER HAZARD. IT IS A COLORLESS... ODORLESS GAS AND IS PRODUCED BY GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES... CHARCOAL GRILLS...AND WOOD-BURNING FURNACES AND FIREPLACES. CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO PROVIDE AN EARLY WARNING WHEN THE GAS BEGINS TO BUILD UP. --- BgNet 1.0a12 - The Thunderbolt BBS wx1der.dyndns.org Little Rock, AR .