Winter Safety for Senior Citizens @MatureAmericans @AARP #OKwx

Did you ever hear a parent tell a child to put on a coat before they catch a cold?  That’s because just being really cold can make you very sick, and it’s not limited to kids. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) says older adults can lose body heat fast—faster than when they were young. A big chill can turn into a dangerous problem before an older person even knows what’s happening. NIA has a brochure, Stay Safe in Cold Weather! with tips on how to stay warm when it’s cold. Here are a few of the tips they recommend: Set your heat at 68 degrees or higher. Dress warmly on cold days even if you are staying in the house. Wear loose layers when you go outside on chilly days. Wear a hat, scarf, and gloves. Don’t stay out in the cold and wind for a long time. Talk to your doctor about health problems that may make it harder for you to keep warm. Find safe ways to stay active even when it’s cold outside. Ask a neighbor or friend to check on you if you live alone. If you think someone has hypothermia, call 911 right away. Cover him or her with a blanket. Don’t rub his or her legs or arms. For more tips including keeping warm inside and how to talk with your doctor about staying safe in cold weather, check out the Stay Safe in Cold Weather Booklet from NIA.

Seven Years ago today #OKready

Emergency Management and Skywarn volunteer, Mart, W5KRG reported "1.2-inch ice 2.25 miles east on CR 156 off HWY 283" seven  years ago today in #AltusOK.

On Twitter, this tweet was one of a number on the first day:

Storm Damage in Altus

RT @swoarc: We have shelters open in #Mangum and #Altus. A Warming station in #Hobart. A NEW request for shelter in #Snyder. #OKice

The next day, @AltusReady tweeted:

RT @swoarc: #Walmart and Brewers in #Altus now open on generator power #OKice to show what "Open for Business" looks like.

The National Weather Service Office in Norman remembers:

“While the storm produced a variety of wintry precipitation, its most significant impacts came with an extended period of freezing rain across southern Oklahoma. Significant icing on trees and power lines resulted in damage to trees and power lines.” 

The folks at the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management documented it as:

“Significant ice accumulations occurred in southwest Oklahoma aided by a meso-low pressure center, which formed in northwest Texas.  This enhanced precipitation rates in southwest Oklahoma resulting in widespread 1 to 1.5 inches ice accumulations.”

Amateur radio operators in the area were impacted, along with the public safety partners, with broken antennas, repeaters with no power, failing backup power systems, etc.

On January 30, seven years ago, the +Federal Emergency Management Agency had received a signature from the +POTUS ㅤ and FEMA Region Six was continuing support for the City and County.

In the mean time, the +American Red Cross shelter remained open for warming, feeding, and sleeping as needed.  Thanks to the +The Salvation Army USA for cooking the food for folks.

On January 31, progress was shown with this tweet.

Also, this week, seven years ago, a faith-based group from New Mexico brought a generator to the area.  The Warren Community benefited from that device.  Churches such as +First Baptist Church and +First Methodist Church joined other faith groups in sheltering and feedig their flocks while  +Friendship Inn joined the  feeding effort.  The generator at the Emergency Operations Center failed.  FEMA provided the device and the +National Guard provided the transportation for it.

The City has learned a lot since then.  The utilities have been repaired and improved.  Communications systems were repaired and continue to be improved. 

What are you doing to be a part of the whole community that recovers from the next one?

Do you have Alert Altus from http://altusok.gov?

Get Real-Time Alerts This Winter

One in three people don’t know how to get real-time alerts and warnings ahead of a winter storm, according to the FEMA 2015 National Household Survey.  Review these tips and make sure you’re alerted to critical information as soon as possible so you can take action to be safe. Confirm your mobile device can receive Wireless Emergency Alerts. Sign up for text and/or email alerts from your local jurisdiction. Consider purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio. If you don’t have a landline, check to see if your jurisdiction has options for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and mobile phones to be connected to Enhanced Telephone Notification (ETN) systems such as Reverse 911©. Sign up for listservs and alerts for the workplace, schools, houses of worship, or other community organizations you’ll want to hear from in an emergency. Download relevant hazard alerts and warnings apps like the FEMA App. Create a list of all the alert systems available to you, and make sure everyone in the household receives the alerts as part of your household communication system. Find more information on how to receive timely information about weather conditions or other emergency events with Know Your Alerts and Warnings from America’s PrepareAthon!