BE PREPARED! NOT SCARED OF WINTER WEATHER DRIVING

WINTER WEATHER CAN BE VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND SCARY. IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO DRIVING IN SNOWY WEATHER; PLEASE TRY YOUR BEST TO CHANGE YOUR PLANS AND STAY SAFE AND WARM AT HOME. BUT IF YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR HOME, PLEASE BE SURE TO FOLLOW THESE TIPS AND STAY SAFE ON THE ROAD.

1. CHECK THE WEATHER- IF POTENTIAL BAD WEATHER, SEE IF YOU CAN FIND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE, LEAVE EARLIER, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

2. CHECK YOUR VEHICLE- CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSUE, WINDSHILD WIPERS AND FLUID, ANTIFREEZE LEVELS AND BATTERY. CHANGE YOUR TIRES TO SNOW TIRES. MAKE SURE YOUR GAS TANK IS FULL, AND ALL OF YOUR LIGHTS WORK.

3. REMOVE SNOW AND ICE FROM YOUR CAR- THIS WILL HELP YOU TO BE SEEN AND SEE OTHER VEHICLES, USE YOUR HEADLIGHTS.

4. SLOW DOWN AND INCREASE YOUR DISTANCE TO 5-6 SECONDS BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU, AVOID SUDDEN STOPS OR TURNS, KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A SKID, REMAIN CALM AND STEER IN DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDALS

5. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT IN YOUR CAR, WITH A SIGN THAT LETS PEOPLE KNOW YOU NEED HELP, DO NOT KEEP YOUR CAR RUNNING FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN AT A TIME TO RUN HEAT AND CHARGE PHONE. OPEN WINDOW SLIGHTLY, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PHONE CHARGER, WATER, BLANKET AND FLARES IN YOUR CAR.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WINTER SAFTEY DRIVING TIMPS GO TO WWW.READY.GOV

OR WWW.FEMA.GOV

CYNDI MAZZA

DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGMENT COORDINATOR