OHIO — It’s Winter Safety Awareness Week in Ohio, and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency is helping the Buckeye State be prepared for the season before it comes.

“Winter Safety Awareness Week is a great opportunity for citizens, schools and businesses to prepare for the potential harsh impacts of winter,” said Gov. Mike DeWine in a press release. “Having an emergency plan for your family, practicing the plan and having an emergency kit at home and in your vehicles will help you be ready for winter weather or any other emergency.”

Ohio EMA said while there are tons of fun activities to do in the winter, like building snowmen and sledding, there could also be hard times if the weather gets bad enough.

In case of blizzard conditions, freezing rain and flooding, officials offered these tips to make hard times go by a little easier. 

Emergency planning

Ohio EMA encourages households to make an emergency plan that includes each member of the home, including pets. This includes needs for babies, children and older adults, as well as those who may require special assistance or medical equipment.

Emergency kit

A way to think about this is having a “go kit” ready. If there’s a power outage or if there’s a rush to leave the home, you can take this kit with you to make sure you have everything you need. You can also make a kit for your car in case you get stranded. These kits can include:

  • Water (Ohio EMA recommends one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation)
  • Food (at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food)
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  • Flashlight
  • First-aid kit
  • Extra batteries
  • Whistle
  • Dust mask in case of contaminated air
  • Plastic sheeting, scissors and duct tape 
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties 
  • Wrench or pliers to help turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Another thing to include is medications or equipment that may be needed.

Practice makes perfect

It’s important for everyone in the household to know what to do in case of an emergency. Ohio EMA recommends practicing the plan to know who is doing what in a situation.

This includes knowing where all the kits are — like in a car, in the basement or other location — but also making sure the household is maintaining the kits, especially if they involve food. 

More information on winter preparedness can be found on the Ohio EMA website.