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Ready PA Monthly - January 2022
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“Resolve to Be Ready” for Emergencies in the New Year
Without a doubt, many of our friends, families, and neighbors are turning their attention toward getting a fresh start in the new year. It remains important to “Resolve to be Ready” in 2022 by creating family emergency plans and emergency kits.
After a year of dealing with the effects of the pandemic, many Pennsylvanians could easily be feeling burnt out. But, having a plan and following it is the single, most effective way to ensure the safety of our loved ones.
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You’re as Cold as Ice!
By: Jeff Jumper, State Meteorologist
Here we are. Smack dab into winter. The holidays have ended, resolutions in full effect, and often the coldest months of the year are in play. Don’t stop believing as we take a journey into some cold weather information.
You’re as cold as ice!
We’re no foreigners to winter weather impacts in PA (you see what I did there?). But with cold weather, you know someday you’ll pay the price. Yeah, cold weather often causes utility bills to soar, pipes to burst, and plants to perish. So, what to do? Here are some tips to help!
- Bills: Service your heating equipment. Lower the thermostat a degree or two to save if you can. Wear blankets and layers. Make sure windows and doors are sealed well and replace weatherstripping as needed. Add insulation to help keep warmth inside.
- Pipes: Keep water pipes well insulated and reduce any exposed piping from contact with the cold. You may run a slow trickle of water to keep the pipes from freezing on extremely cold days. Keep open flames or heat guns out of the mix to thaw frozen pipes, they often cause fires. Make sure any vent pipes aren’t blocked or covered with snow.
- Plants & Pets: Most plants outdoors that make it through winter should be able to protect themselves, but some may not be able to sustain extreme cold. Cover plants with burlap or other material to trap some warmth. Please don’t cover your pets in burlap, just bring them inside to a warmer, more sheltered location.
There were nights when the wind was so cold….
Move over Celine Dion, it’s time to chat wind chills! Add a whipping wind to any cold event, and it leads to more rapid onset of hazards. Wait, what hazards? Oh, it’s all coming back to me now! (Please keep reading, I swear I am done with the musical puns). The hazards are frostbite and hypothermia. Older adults and younger children are typically the most susceptible to cold. But homeless and outdoor workers or recreationists can fall victim to cold just as well.
- Frostbite: Frozen tissue, typically on extremities, that can lead to permanent body damage if not treated. Often first seen as redness or pain, then numbness.
- Hypothermia: A drop in body temperature, when below 95 degrees requires immediate medical attention.
When wind chills get below about -20 degrees, frostbite and hypothermia can set in within tens of minutes. If the person is wet and unprotected, it can happen sooner. The CDC explains how to spot and treat these dangerous conditions.
A few more tips: Don’t run generators or gas heaters indoors or use the oven to heat your home, as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or fires. In your car, make sure you keep a full tank of gas and blankets to keep you warm if you get stranded. If you haven’t yet, get your car tuned up and ready for winter.
COLD, HARD, FACT!
Did you know? Some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in PA happened in January 1994. A period from January 19-22, 1994, featured temperatures dipping as low as -20 to -30 degrees across the commonwealth!
WINNER, WINNER, FROZEN DINNER?
The coldest January temperature for the PA database goes to Bradford, McKean County, where a Cooperative Observer measured -36 degrees on January 13, 1977. That’s 68 degrees BELOW freezing. Wow!
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Winter Weather Pet Preparedness
Don’t forget to protect your pets from cold air exposure. Despite the fur, they too need a warm place to stay.
If it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet. And remember, Pennsylvania’s animal cruelty laws prohibit dogs from being tethered outside for more than 30 minutes in temperatures below 32 degrees.
- Keep your pets inside with you. Cats should not be left outdoors, even if they roam outside during other seasons. Dogs are happy with frequent walks and being kept inside the rest of the time.
- Just like us, windchill can threaten your pet’s life. Exposed skin, ears, and paw pads are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia during extreme cold. Most dogs feel more comfortable wearing a sweater.
- After walks, wipe all paws with a damp towel before your pet licks them. Products such as rock salt used to melt snow and ice can irritate paw pads and their mouth.
The ASPCA also provides tips to prevent winter weather from affecting your pet’s health.
- Coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Towel dry your pet as soon as they come inside, especially your pet’s feet and in between their paw pads.
- Never shave your dog down to the skin in the winter. The longer their coat is, the warmer they will be.
- Try to avoid bath time for your pet during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin.
- During the wintertime, pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm. Feeding your pet a little bit more during winter weather can provide much-needed calories. Make sure there is fresh water to keep them hydrated and their skin moisturized.
- DO NOT leave your pets alone in a car during winter weather. During the winter, cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
Winter weather is the perfect time to cuddle up with your pet. A cozy dog or cat bed with a blanket is a perfect way to keep your pet safe during winter weather.
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Sign Up for Alerts
To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to "Know Before You Go" by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting 511PA.
511PA is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the "Check My Route" tool.
Motorists can sign up for alerts on 511PA by clicking on “Personal Alerts” in the left-hand menu.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
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Get to Know Your Terms
A Winter Weather Advisory is when wintry weather is expected; exercise caution. Light amounts of wintry precipitation or patchy blowing snow will cause slick conditions and could affect travel if precautions are not taken.
A Winter Storm Watch is when snow, sleet, or ice is possible, be prepared! Confidence is medium that a winter storm could produce heavy snow, sleet, or freezing rain and cause significant impacts.
A Winter Storm Warning is when snow, sleet, or ice is expected. Confidence is high that a winter storm will produce heavy snow, sleet, or freezing rain and cause significant impacts.
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Hurricane Ida Disaster Assistance
Remember, the deadline to request FEMA Disaster Assistance as a result of Hurricane Ida last September is January 10.
Governor Wolf requested and received a Federal Disaster Declaration for individuals for Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and York Counties to assist with recovery efforts.
Requests for assistance must be received by January 10.
You can register for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).
Individuals in many other counties may be eligible for Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. In times of disaster, SBA provides assistance in the form of low-interest loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, as well as private, nonprofit organizations for uncompensated losses. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
- Homeowners are eligible for up to $200,000 in disaster loans to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate.
- Homeowners and Renters are eligible for loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster damaged personal property such as clothing, furniture, appliances, automobiles, etc.
An SBA Disaster Loan application must be completed and returned as an essential part of the recovery process. You may apply online, https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339).
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