| Another major winter storm is heading towards Wisconsin. This one is forecast to hit several southern Wisconsin counties. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Watch starting Friday afternoon and ending after midnight. Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches or more are possible. Travel could be difficult later on Friday into Saturday. This will be a wet and heavy snow. Tuesday’s storm also brought wet and heavy snow. At least six people had surgery on their hands in the Eau Claire area while trying to clear snow from a snow blower. Many of those victims lost fingers in the accidents.
Remember.. when clearing a clogged snow blower:
- Turn the snow blower off
- Disengage the clutch
- Wait five seconds after shutting off the machine to allow the blades to stop rotating
- ALWAYS use a stick or broom handle to loosen impacted snow
- NEVER put your hand down the exit chute or around any blades
Be ready for the storm. Here are a few simple things you can do:
- Have an emergency winter weather survival kit in your vehicle. Your kit should include water, snack food such as energy bars or raisins, first aid kit and booster cables. If you have a cell phone make sure you have a power adapter you can plug into the lighter. You can find more tip kits on our website…http://readywisconsin.wi.gov
- Check the roads before you travel. Call 511 or go to www.511wi.gov for the latest road conditions across Wisconsin. You can also go to our website for a regional travel map which covers North and South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/511/default.asp
- Get supplies for your home. Depending on conditions it may be safer to stay home. Make sure your home emergency kit is stocked with food that can be stored and eaten without electricity. Also, make sure you have extra water, flashlights with extra batteries and medications. For a complete list of kit items go to our website: http://readywisconsin.wi.gov/kit/GetKit.asp
- Stay informed. ReadyWisconsin will keep you posted on any emergencies that occur during the storm. Follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/readywisconsin) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/readywisconsin) for updates.
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