Officials preach winter emergency preparedness

With frigid temperatures, people are encouraged to make winter emergency preparedness a priority, whether it be at home or while traveling.

According to the Marquette County Emergency Management office, winterizing can be simple.

Preparing homes

Freezing pipes, potential propane shortages and power outages can be some of things to worry about. To make sure homes are warm and safe:

-Weatherproof a home by weather-stripping, caulking and insulating walls, doors and windows.

-Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls, so pipes are less likely to freeze.

-Lock in a propane rate and have a backup heating plan, such as a generator, wood stove or fireplace.

-Have gas or oil furnaces inspected by a qualified professional and change the air filter.

-Have fireplaces and chimneys cleaned and inspected. Contact local fire departments for referrals or look for a local inspector online.

-Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area. CO poisoning is most prevalent when furnaces are turned on to fight cold winter temperatures, but commonly occurs after winter storms and accompanying power outages, when people tend to rely on portable generators for electricity.

-Clean gutters to prevent ice dams from forming. Roof ice dams can cause water to build up, leading to interior damage.

-Clean storm drains along the curbs to enable water to drain. If plugged, water has the potential to go into low-lying areas and flood basements.

-Have an emergency preparedness kit stored safely in the house that includes water, non-perishable food, first aid kit, extra batteries, a battery or hand-crank powered radio, emergency lighting or flashlights, extra blanket and warm clothing.

Preparing vehicles

Icy or snowy conditions can lead to travelers possibly being stranded or stuck. To keep warm and safe:

-Have the radiator system serviced before winter and make sure to replace windshield wipers and wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture that will not freeze.

-Replace any worn tires and check air pressure regularly.

-Have brakes, brake fluid, oil, the car battery, heater and exhaust checked to make sure everything is running efficiently.

-Keep an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle, stocked with batteries, a battery powered radio, flashlight, windshield scraper, jumper cables, shovel, blankets, first aid kid, non-perishable food and bottled water in the event of being stranded or stuck.

For more information, visit co.marquette.mi.us.