Your January Climate Data is supplied by @OKMesonet

Periods of Record Temps #1904-2011 Precip #1904-2013 Snow #1904-2013 # - large gaps in record	Key * - Record since tied Highlight = Jan record All Temps in deg F All Precip in inches Sig Prcp Freq = Pct of days with >= 0.1" precip	Jan. Averages High Temp 53 F Low Temp 27 F Avg Temp 40 F Precip 0.93" Snow 1.8"			1 T Avgs: 52/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 75* (1965) Low T 4 (1928) Precip 0.37 (1993) Snow 1.0 (2010)	2 T Avgs: 52/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 83 (1997) Low T 4 (1979) Precip 0.78 (1975) Snow 8.0 (1947)
3 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 88 (2006) Low T 5 (1947) Precip 0.98 (1973) Snow 4.0 (1973)	4 T Avgs: 52/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 79 (2009) Low T -11 (1947) Precip 0.64 (1932) Snow 1.5 (1942)	5 T Avgs: 51/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 80 (1927) Low T -11 (1947) Precip 1.28 (2005) Snow 0.3 (1960)	6 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 4% Extremes: High T 79 (2008) Low T 5 (2004) Precip 0.70 (1940) Snow 7.0 (1940)	7 T Avgs: 50/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 82 (2006) Low T 3 (1940) Precip 1.00 (1988) Snow 7.0 (1973)	8 T Avgs: 53/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 80 (1969) Low T -7 (1988) Precip 2.46 (1939) Snow 6.0 (1944)	9 T Avgs: 53/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 77 (1957) Low T 3 (1973) Precip 0.83 (1987) Snow 7.0 (1930)
10 T Avgs: 51/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 81 (2009) Low T -3 (1977) Precip 0.95 (1991) Snow 6.0 (1955)	11 T Avgs: 51/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 84 (1995) Low T -3 (1918) Precip 0.43 (1949) Snow 2.0* (1920)	12 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 77 (1935) Low T -7 (1973) Precip 1.16 (1927) Snow 2.0* (1930)	13 T Avgs: 53/25 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 77* (1952) Low T -2 (1963) Precip 0.70 (1992) Snow 1.0 (1993)	14 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 3% Extremes: High T 77 (1990) Low T 4* (1963) Precip 0.31 (1960) Snow 1.0 (1917)	15 T Avgs: 53/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 79 (1914) Low T 4 (1972) Precip 1.22 (1946) Snow 2.0* (1917)	16 T Avgs: 52/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 2% Extremes: High T 80 (1938) Low T -3 (1930) Precip 0.42 (2004) Snow trace* (1916)
17 T Avgs: 51/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 77 (1923) Low T -9 (1930) Precip 2.12 (2004) Snow 1.5 (1925)	18 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 10% Extremes: High T 77 (1964) Low T -2 (1930) Precip 1.60 (1945) Snow 4.0 (1936)	19 T Avgs: 51/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 79 (1951) Low T -1 (1943) Precip 1.60 (1980) Snow 4.0 (1966)	20 T Avgs: 52/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 85 (1986) Low T 4 (1962) Precip 0.80 (1980) Snow 2.0 (2007)	21 T Avgs: 52/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 9% Extremes: High T 79 (1986) Low T 5 (1930) Precip 0.73 (2007) Snow 6.4 (1966)	22 T Avgs: 53/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 86 (1967) Low T -9 (1930) Precip 2.05 (1973) Snow 5.7 (1966)	23 T Avgs: 54/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 85 (1943) Low T -8 (1966) Precip 1.05 (1949) Snow 1.0 (1983)
24 T Avgs: 55/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 2% Extremes: High T 79 (1970) Low T 3 (1963) Precip 0.21 (1921) Snow 2.0 (1926)	25 T Avgs: 56/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 5% Extremes: High T 85 (1950) Low T 7 (1940) Precip 0.70 (1989) Snow 2.0 (1978)	26 T Avgs: 55/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 6% Extremes: High T 83 (1914) Low T 3 (1966) Precip 0.89 (1949) Snow 2.0 (1949)	27 T Avgs: 54/26 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 82 (1982) Low T 4 (1963) Precip 0.54 (1944) Snow 0.5* (2000)	28 T Avgs: 54/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 80 (2002) Low T 6 (2009) Precip 0.75* (1989) Snow 2.0 (1961)	29 T Avgs: 55/28 Sig Prcp Freq: 7% Extremes: High T 78 (1917) Low T 4 (1966) Precip 1.49 (2010) Snow 3.0 (1948)	30 T Avgs: 53/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 8% Extremes: High T 79 (1917) Low T 4* (1948) Precip 1.11 (1982) Snow trace* (1942)
31 T Avgs: 53/27 Sig Prcp Freq: 12% Extremes: High T 80 (1989) Low T 3* (1918) Precip 1.03 (2002) Snow 3.0 (1994)

Airgas Container Emergencies Program #OKfire training #AltusOK

This program is designed to aid emergency responders in recognizing, identifying and understanding the basic components of cylinders, containers and cargo tank trucks used to transport Airgas chemicals.

It will address objectives for non-bulk and bulk containers used in the NFPA 472 Standard – Professional Competencies For Responders To Hazardous Materials And WMD Incidents.” 

What Should You Seek for a Gift?

Give the Gift of Emergency Preparedness

If you still need some last minute gift ideas, consider giving the gift of preparedness. Help your friends and family members prepare for emergencies this holiday season with an item for their emergency kit.  Pick an emergency item from the lists below or find more ideas at Ready.gov. NOAA Weather Radio. Hand-Crank Flashlight/Radio/Cell Phone Charger. Cellphone Charger or External Battery Pack. First-Aid Kit. Manual Can Opener. Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Fire Extinguisher. Enrollment in a CPR or First-Aid Class. Blanket. Rain/Wet Weather Gear. You might consider items for a roadside emergency, such as: Jumper Cables. Tools – tire pressure gauge, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, shovel, ice scraper, etc. Emergency Flares. For those with pets, supplies for a pet emergency kit: Pet First-Aid Kit. Pet Carrier. An extra leash or harness. For information on how to give a fully stocked emergency preparedness kit, visit the Ready.gov Build A Kit page.

Do you know about FrostBite? #OKwx

Recognize Frostbite

Don’t let Jack Frost nip at your nose. Protect yourself from frostbite with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body and severe cases can lead to amputation. The risk of frostbite is increased in people with reduced blood circulation and among people who are not dressed properly for extremely cold temperatures. At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite: White or grayish-yellow skin area. Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy. Numbness. As soon as you detect the symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. If immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows: Get into a warm room as soon as possible. Don’t rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage. Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes as this increases the damage. Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body). Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned. Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. For more information on frostbite, visit the CDC’s Frostbite page.

Travel Smartly with the FEMA App #AltusOK #OKready

Severe weather can strike anywhere at any time. The FEMA app is an essential tool to help you weather the storm, nationwide! Receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations anywhere in the U.S. The FEMA app has several features including safety tips to help you learn what to do before, during, and after emergencies. You can also prepare ahead of time with an emergency kit checklist and safety reminders. Nearly half a million Americans already have the FEMA app. Are you one of them? If not, download the FEMA app for free on your Apple or Android device today! Encourage family, friends, and colleagues to do the same. You can use the FEMA App Social Media Toolkit to share messages, graphics, and videos across your networks. The FEMA app is also available in English and Spanish.

Know the signs of Frostbite #AltusOK #OKwx #WRN

Recognizing Frostbite

The official start of winter begins December 21, but some parts of the country are already experiencing severe winter weather. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), serious health problems can result from prolonged exposure to the cold. One of the most common problems is frostbite. Frostbite is an injury to the body caused by freezing, and most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Signs of frostbite include:  White or grayish-yellow skin area; Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy; and Numbness.  If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care immediately. If medical care is not available, follow these important tips from the CDC, including:  Get into a warm room as soon as possible; Do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes, unless necessary. Doing so can increase the damage; and Immerse the affected area in warm water.  For more information about frostbite and how to prevent it, check out this video from the National Weather Service.

Coping Mechanisms: Children and Disasters

Disasters can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma or seen the event on television, it’s important for parents to be informed and ready to help ease their child’s stress.  

According to the Ready Campaign, children may respond to disaster by demonstrating fears, sadness, or behavioral problems. These reactions may vary depending on the child’s age.

Children’s reactions are often influenced by the behavior, thoughts, and feelings of adults. Parents can help meet their child’s emotional needs by:

• Encouraging him or her to share thoughts and feelings about the incident;
• Clarifying misunderstandings about risk and danger by listening to their child’s concerns and answering questions;
• Maintaining a sense of calm by validating their child’s concerns and perceptions with discussion of concrete plans for safety; and
• Monitoring or limiting exposure to the media.

For more information about helping children cope with disaster, www.ready.gov/coping-with-disaster.

Are you ready for Winter Weather #AltusOK? #OKwx

Warning Signs of Hypothermia

While hypothermia generally occurs at very cold temperatures, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that it can happen even at cool temperatures (above 40°F) if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water. As winter approaches, it’s important to know the warning signs of hypothermia and what to do if you notice those signs. Warnings Signs of Hypothermia Adults: Body temperature below 95 degrees Uncontrollable shivering Exhaustion Confusion, fumbling hands Memory loss, disorientation Incoherence, slurred speech Drowsiness Infants: Bright red, cold skin Very low energy If someone is suffering from hypothermia, get medical attention immediately and begin warming the person until help arrives. Find several ways to warm a person on the CDC’s Hypothermia page. If you must go outside, prevent hypothermia by: Wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves. Cover all of your body. Wear a hat and a scarf, covering your mouth to protect your face and to help prevent loss of body heat. For more information on how to prepare for the winter, visit the America’s PrepareAthon! Winter Storm section.

Tips for a Safe Holiday

Celebrate the Holidays Safely

Cooking, candles, decorations, electrical cords, and heating devices, are all things you can expect at a winter holiday party, but, they’re also fire hazards. Keep your holiday parties safe with these U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) tips: Test your smoke alarms and tell your guests about your home fire escape plan. Keep children and pets away from lit candles. Keep matches and lighters up high in a locked cabinet. Stay in the kitchen when cooking at high temperatures; like frying, grilling or broiling. Ask people who smoke to smoke outside. Remind smokers to keep their smoking materials with them, so young children don’t touch them. Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers. Thoroughly wet cigarette butts with water before discarding. Find Home Holiday Fire Facts, Christmas Tree Fire Safety, and other Holiday Fire Safety tips on the USFA’s Holiday Fire Safety page.