Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Winter is just around the corner; are you prepared? The Hampshire Fire Protection District, the Kane County Office of Emergency Management, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the State of Illinois are wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday season! As we approach colder temperatures there are some facts we would like to bring to your attention:

• Unfortunately, a total of 37 people have lost their lives resulting from outdoor exposure to cold temperatures in our state since 1997. That is more deaths than those that lost their lives (25) due to severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding and lightening incidents combined during the same period of time.

• Normally, Illinois experiences 5 severe winter storms each year. During the winter of 2007-2008 we experienced 16 such storms, 5 of which impacted more than one third of our State! Records show that Illinois had the fewest winter storms (2) in 1921-1922 and 1980-1981 and the most (18) in 1977-1978 and 1981-1982. In fact, there has not been a winter in Illinois without a severe winter storm in the past century.

• Illinois is no stranger to snowfall either. The average for our state is 39 inches in Rockford and Chicago. Even the southern tip of Illinois experiences an average 10 to 15 inches of snow each winter. The greatest on record snowfall in Illinois from a single storm occurred near the west central town of Astoria during the 27 th and 28 th of February in the year 1900. A total of 37.8 inches of snow was measured. As for freezing rain and ice storms, towns south of Quincy through Lincoln, to Watseka experience more than any other part of our state.

• As for cold temperature records, the coldest place in Illinois was in Congerville in Woodford County where the mercury dropped to -36 degrees Fahrenheit on January 5, 1999.

Obviously Illinoisans are not strangers to cold weather yet we sometimes fail to prepare. Severe storms cause widespread damage and disruption to services. Heavy snowfall paralyzes our transportation systems. On average 80 people in the United States will loose their lives to winter storms and extreme cold temperatures this winter. We don’t want any of our friends and neighbors in Hampshire to be among the statistics. Preparation is a key to survival so we present these tips in hopes that you have a safe and joyful winter season.

Before the Storm 

Know the terms related to storms and extreme cold (listed at the end of this letter). Gather emergency supplies that will allow you and your family to sustain for at least 3 days. Examples:

• Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and a battery powered commercial radio with extra batteries.

• Foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking.

• Extra medications especially for infants, children, the disabled or the elderly.

• Bottled water supply for 3-5 days.

• Rock salt and sand for walkways and to improve traction.

• Flashlights with extra batteries but Do Not Use Candles; they present a fire hazard!

• For home heating do not use your oven they are not designed for such use and present a hazard in such instances. Fire places, wood burning stoves and space heaters are acceptable alternatives. Any heating appliance must be used with caution following manufacturer’s instructions and following all safety related information. The intent is to keep one room warm and livable throughout the duration of the emergency. Provide ventilation and have a working battery operated or battery back-up Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors ready to go. Don’t forget to keep a fire extinguisher on hand and make sure all family members know how to use it.

• It is always a good idea to winterize your home. Insulate water pipes prone to freezing, use UL approved products for such purposes, seal your home against air leaks along pipe chases where you can, disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water to outside faucets. If a pipe does burst, make sure family members know how to shut the water off.

• Insulation in walls and attics, caulking and winterizing doors and windows and installing storm windows are always good preparation ideas. Covering windows with plastic that normally allow cold air to enter is a good way to keep your home warm and lower heating bills.

• Keep your vehicles ready for winter. Fire Department vehicles are out in the cold all winter long and we follow these same practices. Follow suggested maintenance schedules provided by your vehicles manufacturer, have it serviced by a reputable dealer, garage, or mechanic. Check your tires for wear and tire air pressure, check wiper blades, check windshield fluid and carry extra in the vehicle during the winter months. Check lights, vehicle fluid levels, brakes, transmission, and lubricate door and trunk locks to prevent them from freezing. Keep the fuel tank full; at ¾ of a tank we fill up, we suggest you do too.

Consider a Vehicle Survival Kit

A vehicle survival kit should contain the following items:

• Cell phone and charger
• Blankets/sleeping bag
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Knife
• High calorie, non-perishable food
• Extra clothing to keep you dry or to change in to should the need arise
• A large empty can with plastic cover with tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes
• A small can and waterproof matches to convert snow to drinking water
• Sand or kitty litter
• Shovel
• Windshield scraper with brush
• Tool kit
• Tow rope
• Booster cables
• Water container and bottled water
• Compass and road maps/atlas

Some things listed here may not be necessary if you are always driving where there are people and places or businesses that you can go to for help. If you’re in the country and you are a long way from help your survival will depend on how well you prepared. You’re worst adversary is panic so prepare, relax in the fact that you’ve prepared to survive and the chances are high you will!

Clothing

• Wearing the right clothing is essential to winter survival. Loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing in several layers is best. If perspiration occurs remove layers to avoid damp clothes and subsequent chilling of the body. Losing more heat than your body can produce is the beginning of hypothermia. Severe hypothermia causes death but can be avoided.

• Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellant, and hooded. Wear a hat, a large percentage of body heat is lost through the top of the head. Mittens should be snug at the wrist and they offer better protection than gloves. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf to protect your lungs from cold air. Keep your feet dry and consider wearing wool socks.

• Avoid overexertion outdoors, especially when shoveling snow, pushing cars, walking in deep snow. A major cause of death during winter months and exertion is heart attack. The misnomer is that only the elderly are affected and that is not the case. The strain from the cold and hard labor could be the trigger, be careful!

Winter Terms to Know

• Freezing Rain creates a coating of ice on roads and walkways.
• Sleet is rain that turns to ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roads to freeze and become slippery.
• Winter Weather Advisory means cold, ice and snow are expected.
• Winter Storm Watch means severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two.
• Winter Storm Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin very soon.
• Blizzard Warning means heavy snow and strong winds will produce a blinding snow, near zero visibility, deep drifts and life-threatening wind chill.
• Frost/Freeze Warning means below freezing temperatures are expected.
• When a Winter Storm WATCH is issued
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio, and television stations, or cable television such as The Weather Channel for further updates.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions.
• Avoid unnecessary travel
• When a Winter Storm WARNING is issued
• Stay indoors during the storm.
• If you must go outside, several layers of lightweight clothing will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
• If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).
• Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
• Avoid traveling by car in a storm, but if you must...
• Carry an Emergency Supply Kit in the trunk.
  • --Keep your car's gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing.
  • --Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.
  • --Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
  • --Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms.

Listen to Local Officials

Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.

These are just a few of the things you can do to protect yourself during winter months. For more preparedness information visit www.ready.gov, there is a wide range of information available to you in an easy to use format. There are checklists, kit information and you can click on “Ready America” and then type in the search box WINTER PREPAREDNESS or any other topic for even more information. It has been said that knowledge replaces fear. Those prepared to survive stand the greatest chance of doing so. You never really know when you will be tested and when your life may truly be in your own hands. We hope we have helped you prepare for the cold months ahead.

Our thanks to the Kane County Illinois Office of Emergency Management, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the State of Illinois for helping us to provide you with this timely information. We wish you a safe, fun and joyous season and we will always be here to serve.

Stay Safe!

Chief Curt Kramer
ckramer@hampshirefire.org