American Red Cross Working Closely With County Emergency Agencies as Winter Storm Overtakes Our Area

American Red Cross Working Closely With County Emergency Agencies as Winter Storm Overtakes Our Area

News Release: February 2, 2011
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771

Emergency staff at the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley have been working closely with emergency management agencies in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties to prepare to respond to the winter storm hitting our area.

"We have been in regular contact by phone and in meetings to pre-plan for a number of weather-related scenarios," Cordelia E. Miller, emergency services director for the local Red Cross, said. "Shelter sites have been identified if large numbers of people were without power for a prolonged period of time or displaced by a fire or other emergency. Our Red Cross vehicles are checked and gassed up … our disaster volunteers are on standby and ready to assist.

"Right now, our greatest concern is home heating fires," Miller said. "With the temperatures below freezing and people forced to stay inside for extended periods of time, there's a higher likelihood that people may turn to unsafe alternative heating."

The Red Cross urges people to follow these winter safety steps:

Home Heating Safety

Do not use stoves or ovens to heat the home.
Place space heaters on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding or drapes, and keep children and pets away.
Turn off space heaters or extinguish the fireplace before going to bed or leaving home.
Keep all flammable materials such as newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs at least three feet away from heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves.
Do not use candles.
All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside and kept clear.

Power Outages

If a power outage is 2 hours or less, you need not be concerned about losing your perishable foods," Miller said. "For prolonged power outages, though, there are steps you can take to minimize food loss and to keep all members of your household as comfortable as possible."

Put together an emergency preparedness kit with these supplies in case of a prolonged or widespread power outage:

Water-one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Food-non-perishable, easy-to prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
Flashlight
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
Extra batteries
First aid kit
Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
Multi-purpose tool
Sanitation and personal hygiene items
Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, deed/lease to home, birth certificates, insurance policies)
Cell phone with chargers
Family and emergency contact information
Extra cash
If someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining equipment, remember to include backup power in your evacuation plan.
Keep a non-cordless telephone in your home. It is likely to work even when the power is out.

To help preserve your food in a power outage.

Keep the following supplies in your home:

One or more coolers: Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers work well.
Ice: Surrounding your food with ice in a cooler or in the refrigerator will keep food colder for a longer period of time during a prolonged power outage.
A digital quick-response thermometer: With these thermometers you can quickly check the internal temperatures of food to ensure they are cold enough to use safely.

Keep food as safe as possible in a power outage.

Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. First use perishable food from the refrigerator. An unopened refrigerator will keep foods cold for about 4 hours.
Then use food from the freezer. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
Use your non-perishable foods and staples after using food from the refrigerator and freezer.
If it looks like the power outage will continue beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items.
Keep food in a dry, cool spot and keep it covered at all times.

Electrical equipment in a power outage.

Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment, including sensitive electronics.
Turn off or disconnect any appliances (like stoves), equipment or electronics you were using when the power went out. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.
Leave one light turned on so you'll know when the power comes back on.

If You're Outside.

Wear layered lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Covering the mouth will protect the lungs.
Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep feet warm and dry and to maintain footing in ice and snow.
If shoveling snow, take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Avoid overexertion.
Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you must be out on the roads:
Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk.
Keep the car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
Let someone know where you are going, the route being taken and expected arrival time. If your vehicle gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along the predetermined route.

For more information on how to stay safe and warm during this latest onslaught of winter, visit www.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 76,500 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.