The Norman Transcript

Headlines

Discussion

December 8, 2012

Winter safetyRed Cross offerstips

Transcript Staff The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Oklahoma is prone to many types of weather events.

As the calendar pushes closer and closer to winter, the Central and Western Oklahoma Region of the American Red Cross urges residents to take steps now to stay safer when severe winter weather threatens, according to a news release from Ken Garcia, regional communications director.

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families make a kit, have a plan and stay informed by:

· Assembling an Emergency Preparedness Kit: Pack a winter-specific supply kit that includes a warm coat, hat, mittens or gloves, and water-resistant boots, along with extra blankets and extra warm clothing. Sand or non-clumping kitty litter is good to have on hand to help make walkways or steps less slippery. Additionally, make sure you have a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries in your home in the event of a power outage. Have a radio and weather radio to stay up to date on weather conditions.

· Make a Plan: Meet with family to discuss how to prepare for emergencies. Each family should have a plan of how you will deal with ice, snow, and frigid cold weather. Think about it now before you really need to put the plan into action.

· Keep up with the weather if you have travel plans: If winter precipitation is forecast, you might consider delaying the trip to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation. Even small amounts of freezing drizzle, sleet or snow can cause significant travel problems.

· Preparing Your Home and Car: Winterize your vehicle and keep the gas tank full, which will help to keep the fuel line from freezing. Make sure your home is properly insulated. Maintain heating equipment and chimneys

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Headlines
  • Severe Weather Plaza Towers teacher’s aide recounts twister

    When the tornado siren sounded at Plaza Towers Elementary in Moore on Monday afternoon, Maylene Sorrels had one reaction: protect her students....

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Tornado_Search_&_Rescue_1_BV Officials vow not to quit looking until everyone is found

    The tornado that killed 24 people and injured at least 100 others in the Moore and Oklahoma City area cut a17 mile long path that started in Newcastle and ended at Lake Stanley Draper. Nine of the dead are children....

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • First victim identified

    MOORE — The first victim of Moore’s tornado was identified by family as 9-year-old Janae Hornsby, a Plaza Towers Elementary student, according to a local news station....

    May 22, 2013

  • P1013515 Norman church serves storm victims

    Journey Church was humming with activity Tuesday morning as hundreds of volunteers worked to organize donated goods for the victims of Monday’s tornado in Moore....

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • 20130521_mooretornado4 Joplin pays it forward to Moore following Monday twister

    MOORE — Joplin is paying it forward. The day before the two-year anniversary of an EF-5 leveling one-third of Joplin, pastors from Ignite Church responded to Moore, where an EF-5 spent 40 minutes on the ground....

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • 2 arrested for looting in damaged Moore

    Police arrested two men on looting complaints Tuesday after homeowners saw the men and alerted authorities, said Moore Police Department spokesman Jeremy Lewis....

    May 22, 2013

  • City awarded communities incentive grant

    The city of Norman was one of 21 cities recently awarded a Healthy Communities Incentive Grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust....

    May 22, 2013

  • little axe 1 Little Axe seniors celebrate graduation

    Family, friends and faculty set aside grief and concern for Sunday’s and Monday’s tornado devastation Tuesday evening and celebrated the graduation of the Little Axe High School class of 2013....

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • County crews will assess property damages

    The Cleveland County assessor expects that the number of homes destroyed by Monday’s tornado will exceed the total from the May 1999 tornado that devoured much Moore....

    May 22, 2013

  • Through the field of wreckage

    Again, it was Moore. For the third time in less than 15 years, residents of this city of about 60,000 must mourn their dead, help the living and pick up the pieces of shattered lives that now lay in a field of wreckage....

    May 22, 2013