WINTER STORMS: STAYING WARM

We’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to winter storms.  The eastern states are currently being buried under several feet of snow.  Although I feel for the people who are coping with those storms, I also remember what it was like to live in the coldest place in the United States (Marquette, Michigan), and having the power go out during a storm.  No fun trying to stay warm when there is no back-up system.  I’ve learned to somewhat hate winter!

I’m glad to say I’m better prepared these days.  I have propane heat, but I keep an electric heater in my home too, in case the furnace shuts down.  That’s happened before, and it always seems to happen when it’s hardest to get anyone to come out to fix it.  I guess that makes sense: a bad winter storm puts a lot of stress on a furnace to keep things warm inside while the weather is so cold outside.

I have a propane fireplace I can fall back on too in case the electricity goes out.  Although the fan motor won’t work without electricity, the fire still keeps the family room warm enough to keep us all from freezing.  My next step will be to get a small generator to have on hand too.

If you live in a cold climate, please think about creating a plan for how you’ll survive if your heating system goes out.  Having a back-up plan can save you a lot of headaches and discomfort.  We still have February and March to get through, so it’s likely there is a bit more nasty weather to deal with before spring.  Don’t get caught “out in the cold,” make a plan now!

SLIP SLIDING AWAY

This morning on the way to work, I passed a car down in a ditch at the end of the road I live on.  I drove by at first as the car was snow covered and I figured whoever was in it had gone for help earlier.  I thought about it though and turned around.  It was possible that if the driver were injured or had been drinking, s/he might still be inside the car.  I went back and checked and found the car was empty.

In these days of high tech electronics, it seems like everyone has a cell phone on hand.  Unfortunately, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to recharge mine and its gone dead before I left work to head home.  I live in the country and the ditches by my farm are deep and treacherous.  If you are unfortunate enough to drive into one, you’re likely going to need a tow-truck to get out of it.  Your cell phone better be charged and you may want to have a blanket in the car to wrap up in while you’re waiting!

I carry an extra, heavy coat in my car, a blanket and a flashlight that’s always charged (it fits right into a charger that’s built into the car).  Of course, it’s nice if you have a cup of hot coffee or tea along, but I’m usually not that lucky.  Good, warm socks are nice to have along cause it sure gets cold when you’re sitting and waiting.  Having a book on hand or something to help you pass the time is a good idea too.  If the weather is bad enough that you went off the road, you can count on the fact that other drivers have found themselves in similar circumstances too.  You may have quite a long, cold wait before help arrives.

Take the time to think about how you can stack the deck in your favor to survive running off the road or breaking down out in the sticks.  You might be very glad you did!

CONGRATULATIONS: ALLEGAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING

The National Association of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) has recognized seven Michigan local health departments for their “ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies.”  The seven departments include Allegan County Health Department (others are Barry-Eaton, Calhoun Co., Ionia Co., Kalamazoo Co., Kent Co., and Van Buren-Cass District Health Department).

These Health Departments have demonstrated their preparedness capabilities by meeting nationally-recognized standards focusing on all-hazard planning, workforce development, and exercises that illustrate readiness.

It’s gratifying to know that a local Health Department serving a basically rural community can step forward to show such a high level of preparedness.  It’s a challenge to neighboring counties who have not gotten as far in their planning to continue striving toward this common goal.

Congratulations Allegan County Health Department!  You are totally awesome!

DISASTERS

I’m home from work today…as most everyone in my small town is because of all the snow we had last night and this morning. And, it’s still coming down. Visibility is down to nothing and I would not want to try to drive to work with the blowing and drifting that’s going on. I learned that the hard way last year when I tried to drive in during a white out. Instead of staying on the road, I drifted off into a field and buried my car. Even with 4-wheel drive, I was stuck sitting in the car for 4 hours waiting for a tow truck to come haul me out. No fun.

So, what constitutes a disaster? For some of us, it’s nothing short of some horrific event that brings us to a standstill. For others, it’s more simple than that: losing power, having your pipes freeze, running out of food when the roads are bad.

Whatever constitutes a disaster for you, think about how you’ll get by and make some preparations so you won’t be wanting when and if it happens. For me, it’s being stuck in the house on a day when I’m supposed to work. I hate getting behind and I want those customers I have planned on to know I won’t be there if the weather is really bad. So, I carry a calendar with me listing all the appointments I have and the phone numbers where I can call to cancel if necessary. It’s a small thing, but it saves me a lot of worry in the long run.

I remember a time when I was younger when a horrible snow storm stuck and my housemate and I did not have extra food in the house. When we ran out, we rustled up a toboggan and walked a mile in freezing weather to the store to buy what we needed. Then we had to drag it back. It was horrible, and I never want to be stuck in that kind of a situation again.

Now I keep extra food and beverages on hand. If I’m stuck in the house for a couple of days, I like to make hearty soup and have fresh bread on hand for comfort. I keep the fixings tucked away for snowy days just like this! It may be a disaster for some people, but for me, it’s just a good day to sleep in, make some good soup and watch the storm blow over!