Winter Driving Preparedness

Here is another set of tips edited from a memo from Peggy Peirson, Benton County Emergency Services Coordinator.


If you haven’t already prepared for winter driving … it’s absolutely time now. During challenging weather and road conditions, any time of the year, you and your vehicle need to be in optimal condition for travel. Now is not the time to worry about your vehicle condition, if you have needed emergency supplies on board, or what kind of weather is ahead.

• Is your vehicle fit for challenging weather travel? Check tires, tread, pressure. Check wiper blades. Check lights and their adjustment. Check brakes. Check fluids. Do you have traction tires or chains if needed?


• Are you fit for driving? Free from illness, intoxicants and distractions? Are you rested?


• Know before you go? Check road and weather conditions before you travel. Postpone travel if needed. On the web check www.tripcheck.com or call 5-1-1 from your cell phone for ODOT road and weather conditions. Check National Weather Service on line at www.weather.gov.
  Let someone know about your travel plans. When you leave, route, call when you arrive.


• Have an emergency vehicle kit on board – in every car. Basic supplies to keep you warm and protected from cold and wet, food and water, tools, etc. Visit http://www.co.benton.or.us/sheriff/ems/documents/travel-kit_brochure.pdf for suggestions for the contents of a do-it-yourself vehicle emergency kit. Or, purchase a complete kit at RedEsupply.com: Vehicle Emergency Kits
  
• Slow down and maintain extra distance between you and other vehicles. Inclement weather and road conditions will dramatically increase the stopping distance you will need. Allow extra time to get to your destination so that you are not hurried along the way.


• When temperatures plummet – be careful of road ice and parking lot. Sometimes ice on roadways and in parking lots can be difficult to see – “black ice” is a hazard here. Be careful.


• Keeps leaves and debris clear of drains and culverts. Leaves and debris can create localized flooding, and then can freeze into a slippery hazard on roadways. Do your part to minimize this problem.

If you haven’t already prepared for freezing temperatures around your home or business, now is also the time to do that!

• Close or cover outside foundation vents


• Disconnect and drain hoses and cover outside faucets


• Inside, open cupboard doors to allow household heat to reach perimeter plumbing

Finally, when weather conditions become extreme or power is interrupted – check on others to make sure they are warm and supplied with food, medications and other essentials. A quick visit or a phone call can make all of the difference in the world to someone alone or otherwise vulnerable to extreme weather.

My Favorite Emergency Light: Lumin-Flash

One of the products sold at www.RedEsupply.com is the Lumin-Flash



This is my favorite emergency light. It has many features that all together put it in this category. First of all, it is well designed: attractive, solid, well built.


As a night-light, it is typical. It works with enought light. But it's other features are where it is special. One attractive feature is that it uses inductive charging. As a techno-geek, I think that is cool! But, it is really a great feature if you have small kids. It makes the charger childproof. A child can pull out the flashlight, stick their fingers into the charger, and not get shocked. And that's part of the great part- you can easily pull out the flashlight and have a convenient, bright,long-lasting flashlight. It has 6 LED's that make it really bright!


We really realized its value, though, when we had a power failure. The flashlight turns on when you loose power and you can really see where your are going to get together your emergency gear and/or other lights.

Makes a really ideal gift for seniors, college, students.. anyone! Get one here: RedEsupply.com

Freeze Dried Ice Cream

I left a case of Mountain House Freeze Dried Ice Cream at the chamber of commerce, and someone who tried it gave the following feedback:
"My mind was a bit boggled by the idea of ice cream, ready-to-eat out of a sealed package, but I gave the Mountain House freeze dried Neapolitan Ice Cream a try. My taste buds are now all the happier for it! It looks and handles just like the chocolate/vanilla/strawberry ice cream I remember as a kid, but without the messy melting. And it tastes just like that fondly remembered sweet'n'smooth mouthful, except you get to eat it in bites, instead of licks. What a great way to enjoy an ice cream treat, without having to pack a refrigerator/freezer and a really, really long extension cord."
Curtis Wright
Corvallis, OR

Windstorms, the Hurricanes of the Pacific NW

Friday, October 24: Windstorms, the Hurricanes of the Pacific NW

from article published 10/24/08

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The week of October 19-25 is Winter Weather Awareness Week in the Pacific Northwest, including the states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Large trees blown down, Western Washington, Columbus Day Storm, 1962.
The Pacific Northwest does not get hurricanes, but it does get hurricane force winds.

Across eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho and Montana:
Last January's powerful wind storm in Walla Walla, WA and Milton Freewater, OR is a recent and striking example. Wind gusts exceeding 70 mph caused widespread damage. Hundreds of trees were downed, power lines were damaged, vehicles were blown off the road, and even houses were damaged during this event.

Across western Washington and western Oregon:
The best example was the nation's strongest non-tropical windstorm ever---the Columbus Day storm of 1962. This storm produced hurricane force winds across western Oregon and Washington. Winds of 150 mph (category 4 hurricane force) winds rocked the coastal areas, killing 46 persons, injuring hundreds more and knocking out power for several million people. Damage was widespread, with buildings, schools and thousands of homes either destroyed or damage. Other notable windstorms of the past: the Great Olympic Blow down of 1921, the November 13th/15th 1981 Twin Wind Storms, the Inauguration Day storm of 1993, and most recently the Great Coastal Gale of December 2007.

Are you ready for the next windstorm?
Windstorms bring down trees and power lines, and produce much blowing debris. Falling trees and blowing debris cause the most fatalities.

Be sure to have your 3-day emergency preparedness kit ready at home, school and/or at work. This kit should include water and non-perishable food for each person, and AM/FM battery-powered radio, along with flashlights and extra batteries. Be sure to include vital medications, sleeping bags, blankets and warm clothing.

In addition, inspect your home and grounds each year for nearby trees that may fall and damage your home. Ensure the trees are healthy and trimmed, and you home, school or business is structurally sound. It is also a good idea to bring lightweight items in out of the weather, or tie them down. During strong gusty winds, such items can become dangerous missiles. These precautions will help ensure that you are ready for the next big blow.


Additional Links of Interest...

1. Pacific NW Windstorm Brochure (.pdf)
2. Past Windstorms of Oregon, including Columbus Day Storm
3. Historic Windstorm Photographs (mostly NW Oregon/SW Washington)
4. See RedESupply.com for premade emergency kits and gear to make your own.
5. Visit your local Emergency Management office for more information.

Remember, in times of hazardous winter weather, you can get all these vital NOAA/National Weather Service messages via NOAA Weather Radio, your favorite local media, or through NOAA's National Weather Service websites.


This article reprinted and edited with permission from:
Peggy Peirson, Emergency Services Coordinator
Benton County Emergency Management, Search & Rescue
180 NW 5th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330
(541) 766-6864, 766-6052 - fax
http://www.blogger.com/www.co.benton.or.us/sheriff/ems