Category: Weather-Ready
Get prepared: Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 6-10, 2017
The National Weather Service in Topeka encourages all Kansans to participate in a Tornado Drill @ 10am Tuesday March 7.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the drill by practicing seeking secure, safe shelter from a tornado. This test will be broadcast over NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio and many local television and radio stations. Local officials may also sound their warning sirens. Area residents, businesses, and schools are urged to treat the drill as if it were an actual tornado warning.
Learn more at http://www.weather.gov/top/swaw
Plenty more winter to come!
The temperatures may suggest that spring is around the corner, but don’t be fooled — we still have plenty more days of winter weather ahead. Follow these tips shared by the National Weather Service and be prepared for cold weather.
- Check the Forecast at weather.gov or your favorite weather app, station, etc.: Make checking the forecast part of your regular routine so you’ll know when to expect cold weather.
- Adjust Your Schedule: If possible, adjust your schedule to avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, typically the early morning. Try to find a warm spot for your children while waiting for the school bus outside.
- Protect Your Pets, Livestock and other Property: If you have pets or farm animals, make sure they have plenty of food and water, and are not overly exposed to extreme cold. Take precautions to ensure your water pipes do not freeze. Know the temperature thresholds of your plants and crops.
- Fill up the tank: Make sure your car or vehicle has at least a half a tank of gas during extreme cold situations so that you can stay warm if you become stranded.
- Update Your Winter Car Survival Kit.
- Dress for the outdoors even if you don’t think you’ll be out much: The graphic below shows you how.
Blog Extra! When the power goes out: Keep the doors closed!
September is National Preparedness Month. It is also the month of the K-State Research and Extension annual Prepare Kansas online challenge. Prepare Kansas 2016 focuses on keeping food safe in emergency situations. This year’s program will be conducted through the K-State Research and Extension Facebook page. No registration is required, so Kansans and anyone interested in planning ahead for emergencies can follow on Facebook and this blog at any time during September, pick up handy information and interact with K-State extension specialists and agents.
As tempting as it might be to check the temperature inside your refrigerator and freezer when the power goes out,
the best thing to do is to keep the doors closed.
A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). If you anticipate the power will be out for longer than that, prepare to use ice and coolers to keep your food safe.
Prepare ahead of a storm by following these USDA Food Safety Tips:
- Freeze water in one-quart plastic storage bags or small containers prior to a storm. These containers are small enough to fit in around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold. Remember, water expands when it freezes so don’t overfill the containers.
- Freeze refrigerated items, such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately—this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
- Know where you can get dry ice or block ice.
- Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.
Click on the graphic above for more information about food safety information during severe storms from the USDA.
