Winter Resources

Be Weather Aware

The National Weather Service will issue Winter Storm Watches & Warnings for severe weather. 

• Winter Storm Watches mean hazardous weather may take place within 48 hours. Be prepared. 
• Winter Storm Warnings mean hazardous weather is occurring or imminent. Take action.

Make sure you follow trusted sources of information and tune into local media. Follow National Weather Service’s Reno and Sacramento social media accounts for detailed forecasts. 

Keep Warm

Stock up on enough dry firewood to make it through the longest of winters. Without power, this may be your only heat source. If you are without a heat source when the power is out, keep sleeping bags, blankets, jackets, gloves, and hats on hand. If you have a generator that you rely on for heat, make sure you have an adequate supply of fuel. Have a plan in place for where you will go if your home becomes too cold. Visit a warming center or stay with a friend or family. 

Maintain Light

Plan ahead by stocking up on additional light sources and batteries. Keep flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns easily accessible.

Eat & Hydrate

Stock up on easy to prepare shelf stable foods. A camp stove can help you stay well-fed and comfortable during a long storm without power. Simple canned and dehydrated meals are excellent options for non-perishables. Keep fresh food in a cooler chilled with ice blocks or snow. Ensure you have enough water for drinking and cleaning.

Fuel & Stock Up

Charging your vehicle or getting to the gas station in a storm may be impossible. Fuel up in the days leading up to the storm to ensure you can travel when roads clear. Stock up on extra fuel for tools like your generator, snow blower, and chainsaw. Ensure you have a snow shovel to keep walkways and driveways clear. Keep a snow brush and ice scraper in your vehicle to clear your windshield. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Do not forget the needs of pets.

Travel Safely 

Understand projected impacts to travel. It is common for trees or downed powerlines to block the roadway. Assume downed power lines are energized and dangerous. Staying home may be the safest thing to do. Travel only if you must. Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, shovel, tow straps, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. Keep the gas tank full. Make sure your vehicle can handle the conditions; 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles may be required in icy, snowy conditions. Always carry chains.

Road Conditions & Closures

• The Caltrans QuickMap website offers several types of real-time traffic information layered on a Google Map.
• Check current Conditions by CA highway number or call 800-427-7623. For I-80 Road Report - enter 80, Hwy 89 Road Report - enter 89, Hwy 267 Road Report - enter 267.

Stay Connected 

Without power, communication may be most effective using simpler forms of technology like text messaging. Use a battery powered radio tuned to local stations to stay informed of conditions. Charge battery banks to keep devices, like cell phones and tablets, operable. Conserve power by placing your devices in airplane mode when not in use. Look out for one another. Check on neighbors, family, and friends who may need an extra hand in harsher conditions. Your neighbors can be your greatest resource during a storm!

Recognize & Respond

Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.

• Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes.
  1. Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
  2. Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
• Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.
  1. Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness
  2. Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Emergencies in a Storm

Winter storms come with potential power outages, snow removal challenges, more people in our area, traffic delays, and potential icy and hazardous roadways. Even the safest drivers can end up in an accident, broken down or in traffic for hours- so please plan ahead and be prepared. If you are medically vulnerable, consider going to a friend or family member's home in a non-impacted community before the next weather system or until your power is restored.

Snow removal crews sometimes receive requests from residents that their particular street be plowed immediately because they have a medical appointment or emergency. In the event of an emergency, residents should call 9-1-1. Plowing crews will provide top priority assistance to any rescue unit responding to emergencies. A previously scheduled doctor’s appointment does not constitute a “medical emergency”.