RAPID CITY, SD—Forecasters are projecting the season's first winter weather event for later this week. Reposting the recommendations provided by local officals from October 26 (Winter Weather Preparedness Day). The recommendations include developing storm kits for car and home, getting vehicles ready for the winter season, and taking necessary actions before traveling and using caution when driving on roads impacted by weather conditions..
Local officials provide the following important recommendations and reminders:
ALEXA WHITE/Pennington County Emergency Management:
If you haven't already, now is a great opportunity to build a winter travel survival kit for your car and assemble items in your home should you be homebound for a few days due to winter weather events or an extended power outage. Get the snow blower fired up and find the snow shovel. Your winter storm kit for your car should include: sleeping bag or blankets, matches and candles, winter clothing, food, first-aid kit, pocket knife, flashlight and radio with extra batteries for each, a bag of sand and shovel, tire chains and tools, windshield scraper, battery jumper cables and two coffee cans. Small supplies can be kept in the coffee cans when stranded, one can be used for personal sanitation needs and the other to burn the candles in for heat. When burning a candle, leave a down-wind window slightly open for air circulation and ventilation. Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen without the victim being aware of it until it’s too late.
If a major storm is forecasted, make time to prepare around your home, remember to collect foodstuffs, medication, diapers and baby/infant food, and pet supplies. Have a working radio, flashlights/lanterns/candles where they can be easily accessed if a power outage should occur. Do not leave pets outside in bitterly cold temperatures and weather conditions.
JASON CULBERSON/Rapid City Fire Chief:
Now is a good time to find that ice scraper, check your tire pressure and quality of tires, make sure you have a set of jumper cables, check the antifreeze and quality of your battery, etc. Get in the habit of keeping a sufficient amount of fuel in your vehicle. Be prepared to contact 911 if you are experiencing an emergency.
Now would be a good time to inquire with a neighbor or make arrangements for snow removal around your home if you are unable to remove snow due to age or disability. Check with an elderly or disabled neighbor if you can assist them with their snow removal.
DALE PFEIFLE/Rapid City Street Superintendent:
Make sure to remove ice and snow from your windshields, hood and top of the car; and with any winter storm, drive the road conditions and not the speed limit, always be prepared for changing road conditions even in different areas of the community, and allow additional time to reach your destination.
DON HEDRICK/Rapid City Police Chief:
When it comes to winter storm events, the best advice is if you don’t need to travel or be on city or area roads, stay at home and wait out the storm. If you need to travel, check road conditions and make sure you have a working, charged cell phone with you. Let others know of your travel plans and communicate expected times of departure and arrival and roads you plan to travel.