March 29, 2024

Winter Preparedness Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 6

Get ready for winter during Virginia’s Winter Preparedness Week, Nov. 30-Dec. 6. winter-prep-week-banner-update-2014

Recent Virginia winters have been cold and snowy, and many people had power outages. It’s so important to be winter-ready that the National Weather Service and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management have set aside Nov. 30-Dec. 6 as Winter Preparedness Week.

No matter the predictions, a significant winter storm is always possible. With an El Nino weather pattern expected this season, there could be a wetter than normal winter. And El Nino winters can be snowier if atmospheric conditions are right …just like the winter of 2009-10.

Remember: an important part of winter weather planning is being prepared to stay where you are until conditions improve. To be ready, take these steps:

Get a kit.  Basic emergency supplies include:

  • Three days’ food that doesn’t need refrigeration or electricity to prepare it
  • Three days’ water (a gallon per person per day)
  • A battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries
  • For businesses and offices, some bottles of water, food bars and a radio or TV to hear local information about whether or not it is safe to travel
  • A power pack for recharging cell phones and other mobile devices

Make a plan. Everyone needs an emergency plan:

  • Decide who your out-of-town emergency contact will be.
  • Where will you meet up with family members if you can’t return home?
  • Get an emergency plan worksheet at ReadyVirginia.gov.

Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should:

  • Listen to local media for information and instructions from emergency officials.
  • Be aware of winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions.
  • Get where you need to go before the weather gets bad.
  • Get road condition information 24/7 by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org 

Download the Ready Virginia app. Free app for iPhone®and Android™features:

  • Location-specific weather watches and warnings issued by NWS
  • Disaster news from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management
  • A customizable family emergency plan that can be easily shared
  • A checklist for gathering emergency supplies
  • Links to register for local emergency alerts, and more