» Winter Safety and Preparedness

Official VOAD for Santa Clara County

Search:

Snow and wind with a grey background and text stating "Winter is here! Are you prepared?"

Prepare for Winter Weather

The winter season brings joy and reason for celebration; however, it can also bring danger. The winter months see increases in house fires due to candles, cooking, and holiday decorations, along with storms that can produce strong winds, heavy rain, and/snow. Winter storms can cause utility disruptions, flooding, landslides, and unsafe driving conditions. The cold weather that comes in the winter can lead to health problems, including hypothermia and frostbite and carbon monoxide poisoning from misuse of generators/stoves, and heart attacks from overexertion. Read below to learn how you can ensure you and your loved ones’ safety this winter.

1. Stay Informed

The best way to be prepared is to stay informed. Signup to receive local alerts at AlertSCC.org and be aware of your surroundings, especially when storm or flood alerts and warnings are issued. Use the Winter Weather Resources below to stay informed.

2. Make a Plan

Make an emergency plan with your household. Plan for how you will prepare for winter storms and the potential flooding, landslides, extreme cold, and power outages that may accompany them. Learn more about disaster planning at www.ready.gov/plan

3. Prepare Supplies

Have supplies ready in the event you must evacuate or shelter in place. Think about what you’ll need to survive comfortably (i.e. food, water, clothes, important documents, hygiene items, portable chargers, flashlights, batteries, etc.). Learn more: www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

Prepare your Property for Floods:

Clear storm drains and rain gutters of leaves and other debris.
Have items like shovels, boots, raincoats, and sandbags on hand. Visit Valley Water for free sandbags if flooding is projected, see the Resources below for more information
Store important documents and valuables in high locations, in waterproof containers and create password-protected digital copies of documents.

Consider Getting Flood Insurance

Flooding isn’t typically covered under homeowner’s insurance. Flood insurance can cover damage caused by storms, tsunamis, mudflow, and flooding, including structural damage and associated cleanup costs; but a basic policy doesn’t usually cover building contents. It typically takes up to 30 days for a policy to go into effect so the time to buy is well before a disaster. Visit floodsmart.gov or call 1-888-4FLOODS for more information.

Stay safe during extreme cold

Avoid cold related injuries

Extreme cold can cause frostbite, injury to body tissue, and hypothermia, dangerously low body temperature. To avoid health problems related to extreme cold:

Dress in layers and stay dry (sweat can lead to hypothermia)
Eat regularly and stay hydrated. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Stretch before you go out and avoid overexertion.
What for signs of hypothermia and frostbite. If signs appear:
- Seek medical assistance
- Get to a warm place. If you don’t have one, review the local warming center tab in the resources below.
- Remove any wet clothing.
- Begin warming the person up slowly, starting with the trunk of the body

Avoid CO poisoning:

When winter temperatures plummet and home heating systems run for hours the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning increases. To avoid CO poisoning:

Check or change the batteries in your CO detector every six months. If you don’t have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector, buy one soon.
Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
Keep vents and flues free of debris. Debris can block ventilation lines.
Use fireplaces, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside.

NEVER:

Leave the motor running in a vehicle parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage.
Run any gasoline-powered engine (vehicle, generator, etc.) less than 20 feet from open windows, doors, or vents or inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open.
Use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.

If you suspect CO poisoning, warn others and leave the area, opening windows and doors on your way out. Call 911 or a health care professional right away.

Safe Travel

If you are travelling by car this winter season and are travelling to or living in an area at risk of experiencing winter storms:

Drive cautiously, keeping your distance from other cars, avoiding cruise control, and breaking slowly.
Check the weather for storms and snow and prepare accordingly. Remember that the weather forecast is more accurate the closer you get to your travel date.
Decide on the safest route and let someone know where you are going and your expected time of arrival.
Winterize your vehicle by keeping it well maintained, installing good tires, and adding winter supplies to your vehicle’s emergency kit including items to remove or melt snow (shovel, salt, sand, etc.), snow chains, a windshield scraper, and warm clothes/ blankets.

Stay safe during the winter holidays – prevent home fires!

Place Christmas trees and other flammable holiday decorations at least 3 feet from heat sources, such as fireplaces, portable heaters, & radiators.
Remember that wrapping paper can throw off dangerous sparks and chemicals if thrown into a fireplace.
Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen and bedrooms, on all levels of your home, and near sleeping areas.
Use the test button to check smoke alarms each month and replace all batteries at least once a year.
Place candles on steady surfaces, at least 12 inches away from flammable materials, children and pets. Consider using flameless candles.

Safe use of holiday lights and candles

Turn off holiday lights and candles at night or when you leave the house.
Ensure that light strings and other holiday decorations are in good condition.
Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Avoid overloading outlets, power strips, and extension cords or connecting more than 3 light strands to the same outlet, unless the directions indicate it is safe.
Connect strings of light to an extension cord before plugging them into an outlet.

Christmas Tree Safety

Consider purchasing flame retardant metallic or artificial trees.
If you purchase a real tree, make sure that it has fresh, green needles that aren’t easily broken.
Water your Christmas tree every day, and don’t let it dry out. A dry tree is more flammable.
Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
Use only sturdy tree stands designed not to tip over.
Look for Christmas Tree recycling programs in your community and throw out lives trees after 2 weeks or once dry.
Avoid putting tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood burning stove.

Cooking Safety

Keep a fire extinguisher close by when cooking.
Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves when cooking.
Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking food. Turn off the stove if you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time.
Position barbecue grills at least 10 feet away from siding and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Keep anything that can catch on fir (ex. pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper & plastic bags, food packaging, towels, or curtains) away from your stove top.

Contact Us

2731 North First Street
San Jose, CA, 95134
Telephone: (408) 577-2175
Email: [email protected]

Duty Officer:
[email protected]
(408) 622-0822

Newsletter Sign Up

About CADRE

CADRE coordinates organizational preparedness planning in non-disaster times and activates to respond and provide essential services during and after a disaster. CADRE works closely with Santa Clara County’s emergency management community to build disaster resilience among service organizations through communication, coordination and preparedness training. MORE

Quick Links

Join CADRE

Join the CADRE network! Being a CADRE Member allows you to have access to the full library of CADRE resources from our Annual Conferences, Workshops, and trainings. Upon receipt and approval of your membership application, you will be added to the CADRE database and will then receive information about all of our upcoming workshops and events. MORE