SUSSEX COUNTY PROMOTES WINTER READINESS AS COLD WEATHER ARRIVES

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Sussex County Emergency Management is urging residents to shift their attention from hurricane concerns to winter threats, reminding the public that cold season hazards can be equally disruptive. The county’s preparedness push follows the official close of the Atlantic… The post SUSSEX COUNTY PROMOTES WINTER READINESS AS COLD WEATHER ARRIVES appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Sussex County Emergency Management is urging residents to shift their attention from hurricane concerns to winter threats, reminding the public that cold season hazards can be equally disruptive. The county’s preparedness push follows the official close of the Atlantic hurricane season on Nov. 30 and comes as colder storms begin forming offshore. While holiday planning dominates households this time of year, emergency officials say winter systems often develop quietly, then intensify, bringing flooding, power outages and hazardous travel. An October coastal storm that pounded Delaware beaches is being pointed to as a preview of the kind of weather likely to develop between now and early spring. The county is leaning on past experience to reinforce its message. In early 2014, a severe cold pattern known nationally as the polar vortex gripped the region, creating dangerous conditions for residents with limited heat. A few years earlier, major storms in 2009 and 2010 buried communities in snow, closed schools for days, stranded motorists and damaged infrastructure across the county. Emergency Management cites those winters as evidence that severe conditions are not hypothetical.
Officials are asking residents to take several practical steps in advance of potential storms.
Suggested actions include stocking ice melt, keeping shovels and related tools within reach and inspecting vehicles to ensure antifreeze levels, heaters, hazard lights and defrosters are functioning properly. Motorists are encouraged to carry blankets, scrapers and sand or similar material for traction if stranded on ice. The agency is also pushing for households to update their emergency kits and register key medical or safety information through the county’s Smart911 program so first responders can access details when emergencies arise. Additionally, Emergency Management encourages residents to consider basic training opportunities such as first aid or participation in Community Emergency Response Team programs.
If severe weather develops, the county recommends monitoring its emergency website and social media platforms for instructions, following local media reports, staying hydrated, conserving heat where possible and avoiding travel when warnings are posted. Cold weather precautions also include wearing layered clothing, choosing mittens over gloves, covering the head and protecting the face in harsh wind. Additional information about winter weather readiness, including downloadable preparedness materials, can be found through Sussex County Emergency Management at SussexCountyDE.gov/emergency-management.

The post SUSSEX COUNTY PROMOTES WINTER READINESS AS COLD WEATHER ARRIVES appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.