Wisconsin’s Winter Awareness Week

Shell Lake, WI  -- Old Man Winter will be arriving soon enough.  Now is the time to get your home and vehicles ready for snow and cold.

Governor Scott Walker has declared November 14-18, 2016 as Wisconsin’s Winter Awareness Week. The annual campaign sponsored by Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the National Weather Service is to remind everyone of winter safety tips. 

The most important thing you can do is create an emergency supply kit for your car. It could save your life.  You never know when you might be stranded in a storm and it could be hours before help arrives.  Your emergency vehicle kit should include:

• Blankets or sleeping bags and extra hats and gloves
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First-aid kit
• Shovel, booster cables and windshield scraper
• Non-perishable food like raisins and energy bars 
• Water
• Sand or cat litter for traction
• Cell phone adapter  

When driving in wet-weather conditions, it is important to concentrate fully on every aspect of driving.   Don't use the "cruise control" option driving in wintry conditions.  Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the slightest touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, every winter season approximately 50 people are killed and more than 4,900 are injured in crashes on icy or snow-covered roads.  Many of those crashes are caused by driving too fast in winter conditions. Slow down, build more travel time into your plans, and know the road conditions before you go this winter season with the 511 Wisconsin Traveler Information System. You can download the free 511 Wisconsin Smartphone app, follow @511WI on Twitter, visit www.511wi.gov, or call 511. 

Now is also the time to build or replenish your home emergency kit.  Snow, freezing rain and strong winds can cause downed power lines.  It could be hours or even days that your home could be without power.   Here are some items to include in your emergency kit:

• Flashlights with extra batteries or other battery powered lights
• Non-perishable food and water
• A radio with batteries so you can listen to weather and other emergency information

If the power goes out, never use outdoor cooking equipment such as a grill or a gas heater indoors as a heat source.  These items can produce deadly carbon monoxide gas.   Also make sure you have a battery operated carbon monoxide detector with a backup battery.  Never use a gas-powered generator inside of a home.

For more tips on getting ready for winter in Wisconsin, visit http://readywisconsin.wi.gov.  Also follow ReadyWisconsin on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for tips as well as weather information.  For more emergency preparedness information, check out Washburn County Emergency Management’s website at http://www.co.washburn.wi.us/departments/emergency-management