WINTER WEATHER
LEARN THE LINGO
Winter Storm Warning: Severe weather is predicted to occur within 12 to 24 hours. Prepare yourself and your shelter immediately and stay home.
Winter Storm Watch: Weather may occur within 12 to 48 hours. This could be upgraded to a winter storm warning. Prepare yourself and your shelter and stay close to home.
Winter Storm Advisory: Weather that may accumulate and cause delays and difficulties. Take advisories seriously to keep yourself and others safe.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Know Your Risks
Severe winter weather is common in the Texas Panhandle. It can be dangerous and include blizzard-like conditions, ice storms, and more.
Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts from AMA Alerts.
Make a Plan
Prepare for potential winter weather by making an emergency plan that includes stocking supplies needed to protect yourself and your family.
In Case of Emergency
Winter weather can strike at any time. Prepare your home, vehicle, and workplace with an emergency kit in each location. Include items like flashlights, extra clothes and blankets, bottled water and nonperishable food.
Prepare Your Home
Make sure you can properly heat your home. Walk through your home to ensure windows, doors, and other areas where cold may leak in are properly insulated. Add additional weather stripping and caulking as needed.
Keep pipes from freezing. Leave faucets dripping or running slowly indoors. Insulate pipes that may be exposed to weather or cold.
Install carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms. Test each device to ensure it is working properly.
Stock up on supplies in case a winter storm hits unexpectedly. Be sure to prepare for every family member’s needs, including pets.
Keep vehicles fueled. Make sure to keep a full tank of fuel in all vehicles.
During Winter Weather
Stay Off the Roads
Avoid driving during winter weather events. If you become stuck, stay in your vehicle and reserve fuel as you can.
Stay Inside
Frostbite and hypothermia can happen quickly. Stay inside. Only go outside if necessary and wear warm clothes when you do so. Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite causes numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin. If you have these signs, go to a warm room. Soak in warm water or use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
Hypothermia causes low body temperature; below 95 degrees is an emergency. Other signs include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness. If you have these signs, go to a warm room and warm your chest, neck, head and groin areas first. Stay dry and wrap up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
Avoid Overworking Yourself
Walking in the snow and shoveling snow requires serious effort that you may not realize in the cold temperatures. Take breaks often and check in on your body to avoid heart attack from overwork.
After Winter Weather
Listen to Authorities
Follow instructions from authorities to ensure your safety as you navigate affected areas. Do not go outside until you have instructions from authorities.
Don’t Drive
Avoid driving to keep roadways clear for emergency crews and other authorities, and to keep yourself safe from unsafe road conditions.