Major Winter Storm Forecasted to Impact WV and Surrounding States
By Shaunda Rauch on February 28, 2014 from Emergency Services Blog
If you’re anything like me, what I am about to share is not welcome news. This winter season has worn on us all physically, emotionally and financially … and sadly it isn’t over yet. The Charleston National Weather Service has issued a “Winter Storm Watch” that includes Bridgeport beginning Sunday 3/2 at 1PM through Monday 3/3 at 4PM.
..WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* LOCATIONS...A LARGE SECTION OF SOUTHEAST OHIO...NORTH CENTRAL AND WESTERN WEST VIRGINIA...PLUS NORTHEAST KENTUCKY.
* HAZARD TYPES...FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND EVENTUALLY SNOW.
* ACCUMULATIONS...THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE THAN A QUARTER INCH OF ICE FROM FREEZING RAIN AND/OR THE POSSIBILITY OF 4 INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW AND SLEET.
* TIMING...STARTING SUNDAY AFTERNOON...PEAKING LATE SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING...THEN DIMINISHING MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS...UNTREATED SURFACES COULD BECOME HAZARDOUS. ICE AND OR WET SNOW COULD ACCUMULATE ON TREES AND POWER LINES...CAUSING POWER INTERRUPTIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
IF THE THREAT OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER INCREASES...A WARNING WOULD BE POSTED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE COUNTIES. MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
It is important that you take steps NOW to be prepared. Below are some simple steps from Ready.gov that you can take to make sure that you have the basics in place before this potentially crippling major winter storm could impact our state:
Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
To prepare for a winter storm you should do the following:
· Before winter approaches, add the following supplies to your emergency kit:
o Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency for a complete list of recommended products.
o Sand to improve traction.
o Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.
o Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
o Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm.
· Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency.
· Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions.
· Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle.
· Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water.
