DANGEROUS COLD AHEAD! PREPARE!

by Michele Boy | December 20, 2022

From the National Weather Service ..WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM MST/WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM MST/ FRIDAY...
.Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as  low as 45 below zero.
* WHEN...From8 PM MST/ Wednesday to  11 AM MST/ Friday.
* IMPACTS...Dangerously cold wind chills will be capable of causing frostbite and hypothermia in ten minutes or less.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...An extremely cold arctic air mass will
  arrive Wednesday night, and persist through noon Friday. The combination of air temperatures near zero, to well below zero,  and north winds gusting to near 55 mph, will create extreme wind  chill indices. The coldest readings are expected Thursday and Friday mornings. Prepare pets, livestock, homes and vehicles for this intense cold.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Bitterly cold temperatures are settling in for the next several days, and Atmos Energy is closely monitoring the weather and staging its employees across the system.
Atmos Energy reminds customers to stay alert to changing weather conditions in their area, while following a few easy tips to conserve energy, keep warm, and stay safe during the winter weather.
 Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home.
    Protect natural gas meters. Natural gas meters are weather-proof; however, to ensure that the meter keeps working smoothly, remove snow and ice from natural gas meters with a broom or brush. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object.
The City of Syracuse and Atmos Energy express urgency to  minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside.
 If you think you smell gas, act fast!  Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number, 866.322.8667: 
A home emergency kit should include a battery-operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries, extra blankets and warm clothing, nonperishable food, high-energy snacks, and drinking water, at least one gallon per person per day, for a minimum of three days. 
It is also advisable to keep an emergency supply kit in your car that also includes jumper cables, flares or reflective triangle, ice scraper, car cell phone charger, blanket, map, and cat litter or sand (for better tire traction).
Avoid travel if you can. If you do travel, make sure someone knows your travel plans and make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas during extreme cold situations so that you can stay warm if you become stranded. Ensure your mobile phone is charged, and make sure your car’s emergency kit is up to date. Whether at home or on the road, listen to your local radio and television stations for the latest weather information.
If you do become stranded in a winter storm, do not panic. Stay in the vehicle, keep fresh air circulating through a downwind window, run the motor sparingly, turn on the dome light, and make sure the vehicle’s tailpipe is clear of snow. Stimulate circulation and stay awake by moving arms and legs. If you leave the car, work slowly in the snow to avoid overexertion and the risk of a heart attack.
If you have a cell phone, call a Kansas Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (47), or *KTA (582) while on the Kansas Turnpike.
Prepare ahead of the storm so that your livestock are taken care of:
 Provide appropriate shelter from the elements. Livestock can generally tolerate cold temperatures, but wind, rain, or snow will require a greater expenditure of calories. With that in mind, be sure they have a way to get out of the elements, especially the wind. Blankets can help protect horses, but a structural shelter with proper ventilation and dry bedding is the best method of protection.
    Consider the amount and quality of feed. Besides taking shelter, livestock keep warm by expending energy, which means they need to consume enough calories to heat themselves.
    Ensure access to water. It is crucial that your herd has access to fresh and unfrozen water. Tank heaters or heated buckets can help keep water at a temperature your animals are more comfortable drinking. Livestock will not drink adequate amounts of water if it is near freezing, and drinking enough water is important to your animals’ health and well-being in winter months.
State road and travel conditions are available at the Kansas Department of Transportation’s website - www.Kandrive.org. Impacts to traffic are updated 24/7, including maintenance and construction activities, winter highway conditions, flooded roadways, incidents and crashes affecting traffic and closed highways. You may also call 5-1-1 for Kansas road conditions, outside Kansas call 1-866-511-5368 (KDOT).

photo courtesy of Carlos Calderon