[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Public Information Statement : PHI@ 11/20/2008 2:29:58 PM

[svrwx at wx3i.net]

NOUS41 KPHI 201929
PNSPHI

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-0
60>062-067>071-210100-


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
230 PM EST THU NOV 20 2008

...WINTER INFORMATION WEEK 2008: NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 
21TH...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL FEATURE A DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL
TOPIC EACH WEEK DAY DURING WINTER INFORMATION WEEK. TODAYS TOPIC:

BE SAFE...DURING AND AFTER THE STORM. 

NORMALLY...WHEN A WINTER STORM IS IMMINENT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WILL ISSUE A WINTER STORM OR BLIZZARD WARNING 12 TO
18 HOURS BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES. 

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS THAT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER SUCH AS
HEAVY SNOW...SIGNIFICANT FREEZING RAIN...OR HEAVY SLEET IS EXPECTED. 

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS THAT SUSTAINED OR GUSTY WINDS OF 35 MPH OR
MORE ARE EXPECTED TO REDUCE VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW A QUARTER OF A
MILE DUE TO FALLING OR BLOWING SNOW FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS.

THE ISSUANCE OF THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS YOUR SIGNAL TO TAKE
STEPS NECESSARY TO KEEP YOU...YOUR FAMILY AND ASSOCIATED PETS OR
ANIMALS SAFE DURING THE STORM.

ALL UNNECESSARY TRAVEL SHOULD BE DELAYED UNTIL THE STORM IS OVER.
SEVENTY PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS DURING SNOW AND ICE STORMS OCCUR IN
VEHICLES. IF YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE AND SHELTER IS NOT
VISIBLE NEARBY THEN STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE... 

RUN THE MOTOR FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. KEEP THE
TAILPIPE FREE FROM SNOW AND OPEN THE WINDOW SLIGHTLY FROM TIME TO
TIME TO LET IN FRESH AIR.

MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE BY TURNING ON THE DOME LIGHT WHILE THE
ENGINE IS RUNNING AND TIE A COLORED CLOTH TO YOUR ANTENNA OR DOOR.

EXERCISE OCCASIONALLY BY VIGOROUSLY MOVING ARMS...LEGS...FINGERS...
AND TOES TO KEEP YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATING.

THE SAFEST PLACE DURING A WINTER STORM IS INDOORS. IF YOUR REGULAR
HEAT SOURCE FAILS...USE ALTERNATIVE HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS WOOD
STOVES OR SPACE HEATERS...BUT BE VERY CAREFUL. THE INCIDENCE OF FIRE
INCREASES WHEN USING ALTERNATIVE HEAT. HAVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER
CLOSE BY.   

CLOSE OFF UNNEEDED ROOMS AND STUFF TOWELS OR RAGS IN CRACKS 
UNDER DOORS.

COVER WINDOWS AT NIGHT.

EAT AND DRINK REGULARLY TO KEEP YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE UP AND 
PREVENT DEHYDRATION.

PROVIDE FOR PETS AND FARM ANIMALS BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE SHELTER
AND PLENTY OF FOOD AND FRESH WATER AVAILABLE. 

MOST DEATHS AND INJURIES DURING WINTER STORMS CAN BE PREVENTED.
OVEREXERTION IN THE COLD KILLS MANY PEOPLE. THE HEART AND BLOOD
VESSELS CONSTRICT IN COLD CONDITIONS TO PRESERVE BODY HEAT. TOO
MUCH EXERTION CAN CAUSE A HEART ATTACK. 

WHEN SHOVELING SNOW OR DOING OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE COLD YOU
SHOULD ALWAYS SET A SLOW PACE. TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND WARM
YOURSELF REGULARLY. 

SWEATING CAN LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA. THE SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA INCLUDE
UNCONTROLLABLE SHIVERING...DISORIENTATION...SLURRED SPEECH...AND
DROWSINESS OR EXHAUSTION. IF THE BODY TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED
BELOW 95 F SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL HELP.

FROSTBITE CAN ALSO OCCUR FROM EXPOSURE TO THE COLD. FROSTBITE
CAUSES A LOSS OF FEELING AND USUALLY OCCURS IN EXTREMITIES SUCH AS
TOES OR FINGERS FIRST. 

WHEN TREATING HYPOTHERMIA OR FROSTBITE ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE
AFFECTED AREA IS DRY AND THEN WARM IT SLOWLY USING BLANKETS. A
PERSON SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHERMIA MUST HAVE THEIR CHEST...NECK AND
HEAD WARMED FIRST. 

WHEN SPENDING TIME OUTDOORS IN THE COLD WEAR SEVERAL LAYERS OF
LOOSE FITTING...LIGHT WEIGHT...WARM CLOTHING. YOU CAN REMOVE LAYERS
TO AVOID PERSPIRATION AND SUBSEQUENT CHILL.

FORECASTS AND NOAA WEATHER INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE 
INTERNET AT: WEATHER.GOV/PHILADELPHIA ALL LOWER CASE

$$