WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS
The winter months hold the possibility of icy roads, downed power lines and snow drifts. Virginians need to prepare now for cold-weather emergencies and disasters. There are simple, low-cost steps families can take to be ready.

Winter Supplies

For the Home
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet your needs and those of each family member for three to five days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items you may need in an evacuation. Store these supplies in sturdy, easy-to-carry containers such as backpacks, duffel bags or covered trash containers.

Here's what to include:

• Three- to five-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day) and food that won't spoil. Include a manual can opener.
• One change of clothing and footwear and one blanket or sleeping bag per person. A first aid kit that includes your family's prescriptions and medications. Include contacts or an extra pair of glasses.
• Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlights and plenty of extra batteries.
• An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash (small denominations) or traveler's checks.
• Sanitation supplies including toilet paper, soap, plastic garbage bags and disinfectant.
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members.
• Important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep the originals of all important financial and family documents in a safe place. You will need accessible records for tax and insurance purposes.

Ask one person to be responsible for replacing water every three months and food every six months. Batteries should also be replaced on a regular basis. Tape the call letters and frequency numbers of your emergency alert radio stations (EAS) on the radio and make sure everyone knows how to work the radio and put in fresh batteries. Also, tape the channel number of the television emergency broadcast stations on your TV.

For Your Vehicle
Keep the following items in your vehicle during the winter:

• cell phone
• blankets/sleeping bags
• high-calorie foods that don't require refrigeration or cooking (protein bars, nuts, beef jerky, etc.)
• flashlight with extra batteries
• first aid kit
• pocket knife
• a change of clothing in case you get wet
• a large empty can and plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes
• a smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water
• bag of sand or clay cat litter (non-clumping)
• shovel windshield scraper and brush
• tool kit
• tow rope
• booster cables
• water container
• compass
• road maps
• brightly colored cloth to use as a distress signal