This page is where
you will find the latest updates regarding office
closures due to inclement weather conditions.
There are no weather
updates at this time.
Please check this
page often when inclement weather is forecasted for
the Pacific Northwest.
Preparing for Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
Add the following
supplies to your disaster supplies kit:
-
Rock salt to
melt ice on walkways
-
Sand to improve
traction
-
Snow shovels
and other snow removal equipment.
Prepare your home
and family*
-
Prepare for
possible isolation in your home by having
sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources
may be cut off. For example, store a good supply
of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or
wood-burning stove.
-
Winterize your
home to extend the life of your fuel supply by
insulating walls and attics, caulking and
weather-stripping doors and windows, and
installing storm windows or covering windows
with plastic.
-
Winterize your
house, barn, shed or any other structure that
may provide shelter for your family, neighbors,
livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters;
repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches
that could fall on a house or other structure
during a storm.
-
Insulate pipes
with insulation or newspapers and plastic and
allow faucets to drip a little during cold
weather to avoid freezing.
-
Keep fire
extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in
your house knows how to use them. House fires
pose an additional risk, as more people turn to
alternate heating sources without taking the
necessary safety precautions.
-
Learn how to
shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
-
Know ahead of
time what you should do to help elderly or
disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
-
Hire a
contractor to check the structural ability of
the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from
the accumulation of snow - or water, if drains
on flat roofs do not work.
*Information
provided by FEMA:
http://www.fema.gov
