Ice storms may not seem very common, but you should be ready!
The National Weather Service has some tips to help you stay safe
1. Put together an emergency supply kit before the storm hits.
2. Have a week’s worth of food and prescriptions on hand in case you lose power or are unable to travel outside your home.
3. Trim weak or damaged branches around your home.
4. Don’t leave windshield wipers raised on your vehicles.
5. Slow down! The roads will be slick. More than 5,000 fatalities occur on the roadways each year due to weather conditions.
6. Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow from cars causes accidents.
7. Let someone know where you are going and what route you will take. If something happens, this person will know where to start a search.
8. If you are driving and begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn your wheels in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
9. Don’t park your vehicles under trees.
10. Keep your electronic devices charged – as ice storms can cause power outages.