Adrian, MI – With winter weather rapidly approaching, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is encouraging Michiganders to make winter emergency preparedness a priority.
Michiganders should consider the following actions to be prepared for the upcoming winter months:
To prepare your home for winter:
- Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors near every sleeping area.
- Clean gutters to prevent ice dams from forming. Roof ice dams can cause water to build up, leading to interior damage.
- Clear storm drains along the curb to enable water to drain. If plugged, water has the potential to go into low-lying areas and flood basements.
- Have an emergency preparedness kit stored safely in your house that includes water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, extra batteries, a battery or hand-crank powered radio, emergency lighting or flashlights, extra blankets, and warm clothing.
To prepare your vehicle for winter:
- Have your radiator system serviced before winter and make sure to replace windshield wipers and wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture that will not freeze.
- Have your brakes, brake fluid, oil, car battery, heater, and exhaust checked to make sure everything is running efficiently.
- Keep an emergency preparedness kit in your vehicle stocked with batteries, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, windshield scraper, jumper cables, mobile phone charger, shovel, blankets, first aid kit, non-perishable food, and bottled water in the event you get stranded or stuck.
For more information on how to prepare before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, visit michigan.gov.
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