Winter Storm Safety

• Know the winter terminology that may appear across the bottom of your television screen or on the local radio station.
  • Winter Storm Watch: Severe winter weather may affect the surrounding area.
  • Winter Storm Warning: Severe winter weather conditions are on the way. Take cover and be prepared.
  • Blizzard Warning: Blinding snow and dangerous wind chills are expected for several hours. Sustained winds of 35 mph are expected to sweep the area. A traveler’s advisory is issued if driving conditions are expected to be dangerous or slow moving.
• Complete an itemized inventory of your furnishings and personal belongings and store in a safe place with insurance policies, legal documents and other valuables. Keep these documents in a fireproof box or in a safe deposit box at your bank. As you go through each room, list every item including the date of purchase, price and model or serial numbers. Don’t forget to list the valuable
• Winterize your car long before the first snowfall hits. Winter weather is unpredictable and may surprise you early in the season. Prepare a disaster kit for your car or truck which includes:

• If you have a wood burning fireplace, stock an ample supply of logs that can be easily reached during a storm.
• Winterize your trees and bushes by trimming long branches. The ice and wet snow that accumulates on branches can cause damage to your home, car or neighbors.
• Salt and shovel walkways often.
• Drain your pipes if you go on vacation or experience a power outage to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.
• Make certain that each family member has a warm winter coat, gloves or mittens, hat or scarf and water-resistant boots.
• Keep your gas tank full in the winter months to protect your fuel line from freezing.

• Cover your mouth with a scarf or ski mask to protect your lungs.
• Heat escapes most rapidly through the head. Cover your head with a hat or scarf to prevent heat loss.
• Minimize cold drafts and conserve energy in your house by stuffing cracks around doors and windows with rugs, newspapers or towels.
• Stay inside and wear loose fitting, layered and lightweight clothing.
• When you leave during a winter storm or when severe weather threatens, let a family member or friend know your destination, travel route and estimated time of arrival.
• When your windshield wipers are frozen to your windshield, gently lift your wipers off the windshield instead of relying on the wiper motor. This practice will prevent your wipers from freezing to the glass and increase your wiper motor’s life span.
• If you find that your locks are frozen, try using a lighter to warm up the end of the key.
• ABS brakes were not designed to be pumped in icy weather. To activate brakes, apply firm consistent pressure.
• Use your headlights when your windshield wipers are running.
• When shoveling, take frequent breaks and avoid over exertion. Push the snow instead of lifting it if possible.
• If you get stranded in your car:
  • Stay in the car.
  • Tie a rag or piece of bright colored clothing to the antenna.
  • Leave an interior light on when engine is running so people can see you inside.
  • While you wait to be rescued, move your limbs around to ensure proper blood circulation. This will also help you stay warm.
  • Run the car’s engine ten minutes out of every hour.
  • Keep one window slightly ajar to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your car.
  • Although you may think snow will help you survive, eating it will only make you colder. Instead, use a match or candle and melt it into a drinking container.
• Most deaths that occur during a winter storm are not caused directly by the storm, rather from ignorance and impatience. The three leading causes of winter storm related deaths are:
  • traffic accidents - Slow down and leave ample space between your car and other drivers.
  • heart attacks from shoveling snow - Consider hiring a professional snow removal service.
  • exposure to cold - Wearing hats and boots will help prevent hypothermia.
• Assist elderly neighbors and people with special needs. Offer to remove the snow from their driveway, fetch necessities or invite them into your home to wait out the storm.

• Once the storm conditions subside, assess your home and property for ice and storm damage.
• Contact your ERIE Agent or nearest field office as soon as possible to file a claim. After business hours, contact After Hours Service at (800) 367-3743.
• Dry any wet building materials or contents promptly to avoid mold, mildew or further damage. These include materials and items such as carpeting, furniture, insulation and drywall.
• If you have access to a camera or video camcorder, document your losses. This will help speed up the claims process. Compile a list of damaged items.
• Hold off on permanent repairs until your ERIE adjuster approves your reimbursement.
• Keep all receipts related to repairs and temporary housing.
• Carefully brush the heavy accumulation of snow off your roof.
• Keep gutters clear, if possible, and shovel snow away from downspouts, basement window wells and stairwells.
• Beware of high water runoff and possible sewer problems as the snow melts.
• To prevent flooding, be sure your street storm sewer is clear of snow, ice and debris.
• Check your sump pump periodically to ensure that it is handling the amount of water from thawing snow. Auxiliary pumps are available at home centers. Wet vacs, fans and humidifiers can also help to keep the area dry if a sump pump fails.

Did you know that the three leading causes of winter storm related deaths are traffic accidents, heart attacks from shoveling snow and exposure to the cold? These killers can be conquered with a simple mix of common sense and patience.