Weather service, Fire Department offer cold weather safety tips

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com 

“Please take this cold seriously.”

That’s the message from the National Weather Service, and from the local Fire Department.

“An outbreak of arctic air will bring dangerous and record-breaking cold air to the region starting Tuesday and continuing through Thursday,” the weather service said.

“This is a potentially dangerous situation” with cold that has not been seen in more than 20 years, since January 1996, NWS said. “This could be a life-threatening period.”

A wind chill warning is in effect for this afternoon (Tuesday) through Thursday morning. Wind chills during this period will be 40 to 60 below at times.

Eric Whipple, Charles City fire chief, urged area residents to use caution dealing with the extreme cold.

“With very serious, life-threatening cold weather coming, it is extremely important to be aware of potential fire hazards,” Whipple said. “Also be sure to clear away snow from nearby fire hydrants, and any snow blocking vents for your furnace or water heater coming out of your home.”

The Fire Department posted safety tips on its Facebook page and Whipple asked the Press to share them. They include:

• Do not use any appliances as alternative heat sources that are not UL approved for that specific purpose.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from any heat source like fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators or space heaters.
• Keep portable generators outside, away from windows and as far as possible away from your home.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector and test it at least monthly.
• Plug only one heat-producing appliance such as a space heater into an electrical outlet at a time.
• Never use an extension cord with a heat-producing appliance.
• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney and vents every year.

“Heating equipment is involved in 1 in every 7 home fires and 1 in every 5 home fire deaths,” the information said.

Some area schools were already announcing closings for Tuesday and longer on Monday afternoon.

The Charles Theatre announced it won’t be open through Wednesday evening,

The National Weather Service said frostbite can occur to any exposed skin in less than 5 or 10 minutes in this extreme cold. Pipes could burst in homes or under roadways. Car batteries could fail if weak or old.

“During this arctic outbreak, cancel or reschedule any non-emergency outdoor activities,” the NWS said. “Cover exposed skin by wearing several layers of clothing. Protect pets from the cold and make sure they have fresh water. Check on family members or neighbors, especially the elderly.”

Wintertime poses a wide range of threats to residents of the Midwest, the weather service said, adding that hundreds of people are injured or killed each year as a direct result of exposure to the cold, vehicle accidents or improper use of heaters.

As cold as it is expected to get, some relief is in sight. The forecast for the weekend is highs in the upper 30s to near 40 degrees with lows in the 20s and even a chance of rain before turning cooler and snowy again next Monday.