News

7 Steps for cold weather preparation

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs

 

As Nebraska enters the winter months, frigid weather conditions become more frequent.

Offutt personnel should prepare themselves and their families for the hazards of cold, snow and ice.

 

1.Test Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas given off by gas furnaces, cars, charcoal grills, propane stoves and portable generators and can be fatal in high concentrations. To combat this risk regularly test household carbon monoxide detectors and ensure batteries have an adequate charge.

 

2. Icy roads can be tough to spot
Watch the temperature and road conditions and carefully weigh the risks before setting out on potentially dangerous roads. In the case of icy roads, regardless of the type of vehicle, drivers should slow down, leave a greater following distance than normal, be prepared for sudden stops and leave more time for your commute. Icy roads paired with high winds, which are common in the Midwest, and low visibility from snow can be especially dangerous.

 

3. Prepare Winter Emergency Kits
Prepare with a robust vehicle survival kit. It may make being stuck outside in the snow less dangerous. Items which may be useful include additional warm clothing, blankets, mittens and gloves, extra socks, a flashlight, a candle and matches, non-perishable food, water, a shovel, and salt, sand or cat litter which can help melt snow or add enough traction to get moving again when stuck in snow.

Severe winter storms can also freeze pipes and cause power outages making being prepared at home just as important. A battery or crank powered radio supply of water, non-perishable ready to eat food

 

4. Understand the Windchill Index

View index here.

 

5. Know Base Reporting Procedures

Service members and civilians are asked to follow the base operating procedures for their reporting status of mission-essential or non-mission-essential during times of inclement weather. If unsure what to do ask your supervisor.

 

6. Learn where to find information on Offutt weather conditions and responses

Ensure you have updated your Athoc notification information. Check the Offutt AFB Facebook page or Offutt Weather Twitter page. The Twitter page that will send you a text when information is put out about base delay’s or closures due to weather. To sign up, you must have a Twitter account with an attached phone number and send a text to 40404 with “Follow Offutt_Weather” in the message.

 

7.  Snow and Information Line

The 55th Wing Public Affairs office will send the information to the local media for the local news to get out to the community. Lastly is the Snow and Information Line at 232-COLD, this information is updated as quickly as possible but the information is sometimes more difficult to get up due to the lack of available phone lines to the system.

 

For more information about the Offutt AFB Snow and Information procedures visit http://www.offutt.af.mil/Home/InclementWeather.aspx