The National Weather Service and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency have declared October 27 Through October 31, 2003, as Winter Weather Awareness Week in Nebraska. Each year Winter Weather Awareness Week is held to remind Nebraskans that the winter weather season is rapidly approaching. Governor Mike Johanns is scheduled to sign a proclamation for Winter Weather Awareness Week on October 22nd. Each day during Winter Weather Awareness Week, the National Weather Service will issue Public Information Statements highlighting various winter weather topics. 

Each of the topics are presented here>

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
600 AM CST MON OCT 27 2003
               
...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEBRASKA... 

GOVERNOR MIKE JOHANNS...THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAVE DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF
OCTOBER 27 TO OCTOBER 31 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
NEBRASKA.  EACH DAY THIS WEEK A WINTER WEATHER HAZARD OR TOPIC WILL
BE DISCUSSED.  THESE STATEMENTS...ALONG WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED
SAFETY INFORMATION...CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT: 

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE). 

2003 WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK TOPICS INCLUDE ... 

MONDAY...WINTER WEATHER TERMINOLOGY
TUESDAY...BLIZZARDS AND HEAVY SNOW          
WEDNESDAY...EXTREME COLD AND WIND CHILL         
THURSDAY...FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET                               
FRIDAY...WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS IN THE HOME AND CAR                    

TODAY/S TOPIC IS WINTER WEATHER TERMINOLOGY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS TO KEEP
THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF IMPENDING WINTER WEATHER.  BELOW IS A LIST
OF WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS AND TERMS.

WINTER STORM WARNING...IS ISSUED WHEN A COMBINATION OF HEAVY
SNOW...FREEZING RAIN...SLEET OR HEAVY WINTER PRECIPITATION IS
EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH STRONG WINDS AND/OR VERY COLD WIND-CHILL
TEMPERATURES.  WINTER STORM WARNINGS ARE ISSUED WHEN THE EVENT IS
VERY LIKELY OR IMMINENT WITHIN 24 HOURS. 

WINTER STORM WATCH...ALERTS THE PUBLIC TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A
BLIZZARD...HEAVY SNOW...FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...OR A COMBINATION
OF THESE ELEMENTS FROM 12 TO 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE. A WINTER STORM
WATCH DOES NOT INDICATE THAT A WINTER STORM IS IMMINENT. 

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...IS ISSUED FOR ALL HAZARDOUS WEATHER
...INCLUDING WINTER WEATHER...THROUGH SEVEN DAYS INTO THE FUTURE. 
THIS PRODUCT WOULD BE THE FIRST PLACE TO CHECK TO SEE IF A MAJOR
STORM WILL BE APPROACHING IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.  THE HAZARDOUS
WEATHER OUTLOOK IS AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY PRODUCT OF ALL EXPECTED
WINTER HAZARDS...ESPECIALLY THOSE EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT 36 HOURS. 

BLIZZARD WARNING...IS ISSUED FOR SUSTAINED WINDS OR FREQUENT GUSTS
OF 35 MPH OR GREATER AND CONSIDERABLE FALLING AND/OR BLOWING SNOW
WITH VISIBILITY OF LESS THAN 1/4 MILE...AND THESE CONDITIONS ARE 
EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS.  

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW...FREEZING
RAIN...FREEZING DRIZZLE...SLEET OR A COMBINATION OF THESE ELEMENTS
IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING. ADVISORIES ARE ISSUED FOR EVENTS THAT 
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INCONVENIENCE AND IF CAUTION IS NOT EXERCISED...
COULD LEAD TO SITUATIONS THAT MAY THREATEN LIFE AND PROPERTY. 

WIND-CHILL WARNING...IS ISSUED WHEN WIND-CHILL TEMPERATURES ARE
FORECAST TO BE LESS THAN 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO AND WIND SPEEDS ARE AT
LEAST 10 MPH. 

WIND-CHILL ADVISORY...IS ISSUED WHEN WIND-CHILL TEMPERATURES ARE
FORECAST TO BE BETWEEN 20 AND 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO AND WIND SPEEDS 
ARE AT LEAST 10 MPH.  

DENSE-FOG ADVISORY...IS ISSUED WHEN FOG WILL REDUCE WIDESPREAD
VISIBILITIES TO LESS THAN 1/4 MILE.

THE FOLLOWING CONTAIN EXPLANATIONS OF WINTER WEATHER TERMS.

HEAVY SNOW...IS SIX INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW THAT FALLS IN 12 HOURS
OR EIGHT INCHES OR MORE OF SNOW THAT FALLS IN 24 HOURS. 

FREEZING RAIN...IS RAIN THAT FALLS ONTO SURFACES...SUCH AS TREES...
CARS AND ROADS...AND THAT HAS A TEMPERATURE WHICH  IS BELOW
FREEZING.. CAUSING IT TO FREEZE ON CONTACT TO THOSE SURFACES AND 
FORM A COATING OR GLAZE OF ICE. EVEN A VERY SMALL ACCUMULATION OF 
ICE CAN CREATE A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD. 

SLEET...IS RAIN DROPS THAT FREEZE INTO ICE PELLETS BEFORE REACHING 
THE GROUND.  SLEET USUALLY BOUNCES WHEN HITTING A SURFACE AND DOES 
NOT STICK TO OBJECTS.  HOWEVER...IT CAN ACCUMULATE LIKE SNOW...
CREATING A HAZARD. 

BLOWING SNOW...IS WIND-DRIVEN SNOW THAT REDUCES VISIBILITY AND CAN
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DRIFTING. 

SNOW FLURRY...IS LIGHT SNOW FALLING FOR A SHORT DURATION.  NO
ACCUMULATION TO A LIGHT DUSTING USSUALLY OCCURS.

BRIAN E. SMITH      
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
600 AM CST TUE OCT 28 2003

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEBRASKA... 

GOVERNOR MIKE JOHANNS...THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAVE DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF
OCTOBER 27 TO OCTOBER 31 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
NEBRASKA.  EACH DAY THIS WEEK A WINTER WEATHER HAZARD OR TOPIC WILL
BE DISCUSSED.  THESE STATEMENTS...ALONG WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED
SAFETY INFORMATION...CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT: 

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE). 

TODAY/S TOPICS ARE BLIZZARDS AND HEAVY SNOW.

WINTER STORMS RANGE FROM A HEAVY SNOW WITH A LIGHT WIND TO A 
RAGING BLIZZARD...WHICH CAN PARALYZE A LARGE AREA FOR DAYS.  TODAY
WE WILL DISCUSS WHAT TO DO PRIOR TO AND DURING A WINTER
STORM.   WE WILL TRACE A WINTER STORM FROM THE OUTLOOK PHASE
THROUGH THE WINTER STORM WATCH PHASE AND ON THROUGH THE WARNING
PHASE OF THE STORM.  WITH THE ISSUANCE OF EACH NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE PRODUCT...SUGGESTED PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS WILL BE GIVEN
THAT YOU MAY WISH TO USE. 

THE OUTLOOK PHASE

ABOUT 5 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ARRIVAL OF A MAJOR WINTER STORM...THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A WINTER WEATHER OUTLOOK.  THE
OUTLOOK IS UPDATED EVERY 12 HOURS FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS. 
THE WINTER WEATHER OUTLOOK HIGHLIGHTS A POTENTIAL WINTER
STORM THAT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT NEBRASKA AND THE REST OF THE UPPER
MIDWEST IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. 

AT THIS POINT...BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE
TRAVEL PLANS IF THE STORM DOES MATERIALIZE.   MONITOR THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE WEB SITE FOR UPDATES. 

THE WINTER STORM WATCH PHASE

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED FOR NEBRASKA 36 HOURS BEFORE THE STORM IS
EXPECTED.  CONFIDENCE THAT THE STORM WILL IMPACT THE STATE HAS
INCREASED ENOUGH THAT A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED.  AT THIS
POINT...THE STORM IS NOT IMMINENT BUT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY
LIKELY. 

WHEN A WINTER STORM WATCH IS ISSUED...KNOW WHERE YOU WILL BE WHEN
THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AND MAKE ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL PLANS
IF POSSIBLE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR WINTER SURVIVAL KIT FOR YOUR
CAR OR TRUCK READY.  IT SHOULD CONTAIN BLANKETS/SLEEPING BAGS ...
FLASHLIGHTS...A FIRST-AID KIT...A KNIFE...HIGH-CALORIE AND
NONPERISHABLE FOOD...EXTRA CLOTHING...A LARGE EMPTY CAN WITH A 
PLASTIC LID AND TISSUES FOR SANITARY PURPOSES...A SMALLER CAN AND
WATERPROOF MATCHES TO MELT SNOW FOR DRINKING WATER...A SACK OF
SAND...A SHOVEL...A WINDOW SCRAPER/BRUSH...A TOOL KIT...A TOW ROPE ...
BOOSTER CABLES...A WATER CONTAINER...A COMPASS AND ROAD MAPS.  

AT HOME...IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING AVAILABLE... 
A FLASHLIGHT AND EXTRA BATTERIES...A BATTERY-POWERED NOAA WEATHER
RADIO...EXTRA FOOD AND WATER...EXTRA MEDICINE AND BABY ITEMS ...
FIRST-AID SUPPLIES...HEATING FUEL...AN EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE...A
FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SMOKE DETECTORS.  

THE WARNING PHASE

TWELVE HOURS BEFORE THE STORM STRIKES...A BLIZZARD WARNING IS ISSUED
FOR YOUR AREA.  BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MAY BE EXPERIENCED FOR 12 HOURS
ONCE THE STORM ARRIVES.  SOME LOCATIONS MAY EXPERIENCE THE LOSS OF
POWER...VERY HIGH SNOW DRIFTS AND PARTIAL TO COMPLETE ROAD
CLOSURES. 

THE FOLLOWING SAFETY TIPS ARE RECOMMENDED DURING A BLIZZARD
WARNING.

STAY INDOORS DURING THE STORM...AND CANCEL ALL TRAVEL PLANS.  THIS
SIMPLE STEP CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. 

IF YOU MUST GO OUTDOORS...WEAR SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHING.  BE
AWARE THAT IT IS EASY TO BECOME DISORIENTED AND LOST IN A BLIZZARD
EVEN WHEN ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM BUILDINGS OR REFUGE.  

IF YOU MUST ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL...CARRY A WINTER WEATHER SURVIVAL KIT
... KEEP YOUR CAR/S GAS TANK FULL...LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR
DESTINATION...YOUR ROUTE AND YOUR EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME...AND
CARRY A FULLY CHARGED CELLULAR TELEPHONE.
 
IF YOU HAVE A  NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH A BATTERY BACK-UP...IT IS 
IMPORTANT TO CHANGE THESE BATTERIES ANNUALLY.  DURING WINTER
WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO DO THIS. 

HEAVY SNOW CAN IMMOBILIZE A REGION AND PARALYZE A CITY...STRANDING
COMMUTERS...STOPPING THE FLOW OF SUPPLIES...AND DISRUPTING
EMERGENCY AND MEDICAL SERVICES.  THE ACCUMULATION OF VERY HEAVY
SNOW CAN COLLAPSE BUILDINGS AND KNOCK DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES. 
IN RURAL AREAS...HOMES AND FARMS MAY BE ISOLATED FOR DAYS...AND
UNPROTECTED LIVESTOCK MAY BE LOST.
 
THE COST OF SNOW REMOVAL AND THE LOSS OF BUSINESS CAN HAVE A LARGE
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON CITIES AND TOWNS.

THE SEASONAL AVERAGE SNOWFALL FOR NEBRASKA IS 31.6 INCHES.  IT VARIES 
FROM AN AVERAGE OF 27 INCHES IN THE SOUTHEAST TO OVER 41 INCHES IN THE 
PANHANDLE.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER NEBRASKA STATISTICS...

THE SNOWIEST WINTER APPEARS TO BE THE 1948-49 ONE.  MANY LOCATIONS IN NORTH
CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST NEBRAKSA RECEIVED 80-90 INCHES.  THE GREATEST SNOWFALL 
TOTAL BY AN INDIVIDUAL LOCATION WAS 113 INCHES IN HARRISON IN 1973.

THE MOST SNOW IN ONE STORM WAS 41 INCHES AT CHADRON IN JANUARY 1949.

THE MOST SNOWFALL IN ONE DAY WAS 35 INCHES IN GOTHENBURG IN 1912.

IT IS THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEVERE EARLY WINTER OF 1983.  WINTER BEGAN
WITH A MAJOR BLIZZARD DURING THANKSGIVING WEEKEND...WITH 1 TO 2 FEET OF SNOW
ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.  THE SOUTHEAST HAD LESS SNOW...BUT SEVERE ICING.  
FOLLOWING THAT STORM...THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WAS BITTERLY COLD...WITH TEMPERATURES
WELL BELOW ZERO DURING THE THIRD WEEK.  THAT DECEMBER WAS BY FAR THE COLDEST ON 
RECORD IN NEBRASKA...WITH MANY AREAS BEING 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.

BRIAN E. SMITH
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
600 AM CST WED OCT 29 2002
               

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEBRASKA... 

GOVERNOR MIKE JOHANNS...THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAVE DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF
OCTOBER 27 TO OCTOBER 31 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
NEBRASKA.  EACH DAY THIS WEEK A WINTER WEATHER HAZARD OR TOPIC WILL
BE DISCUSSED.  THESE STATEMENTS...ALONG WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED
SAFETY INFORMATION...CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT: 

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE). 

TODAY/S TOPICS ARE EXTREME COLD AND WIND CHILL.

NEARLY EVERY YEAR EPISODES OF EXTREMELY COLD AIR ACCOMPANY
WINTER STORMS OR ARE LEFT IN THEIR WAKE.  WHEN AN ARCTIC OUTBREAK
IS ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG WINDS ... BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS CAN
RESULT.  PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE COLD CAN CAUSE FROSTBITE OR
HYPOTHERMIA AND CAN BECOME LIFE THREATENING.  INFANTS AND ELDERLY
PEOPLE ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE. 

THERE ARE TWO DANGERS DURING COLD SPELLS ... FROSTBITE AND
HYPOTHERMIA.

FROSTBITE IS DAMAGE TO BODY TISSUE CAUSED BY THAT TISSUE BEING
FROZEN.  FROSTBITE CAUSES A LOSS OF FEELING AND A WHITE OR PALE
APPEARANCE IN EXTREMITIES SUCH AS FINGERS ... TOES ... EAR LOBES ... OR
THE TIP OF THE NOSE.  IF SYMPTOMS ARE DETECTED ... GET MEDICAL HELP
IMMEDIATELY.  IF HELP IS NOT AVAILABLE ... SLOWLY WARM AFFECTED
AREAS.  HOWEVER ... IF SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA (DETAILED IN THE NEXT
PARAGRAPH) ARE PRESENT ... WARM THE BODY CORE BEFORE THE
EXTREMITIES. 

HYPOTHERMIA IS HAVING A LOW BODY TEMPERATURE. WARNING SIGNS
INCLUDE UNCONTROLLABLE SHIVERING ... MEMORY LOSS ... DISORIENTATION ...
INCOHERENCE ... SLURRED SPEECH ... DROWSINESS ... AND APPARENT
EXHAUSTION. TO DETECT HYPOTHERMIA ... TAKE THE PERSON/S
TEMPERATURE.  IF IT IS BELOW 95 DEGREES ... IMMEDIATELY SEEK MEDICAL
CARE.  IF MEDICAL CARE IS NOT AVAILABLE ... BEGIN WARMING THE BODY
SLOWLY.  WARM THE CORE FIRST.  IF NEEDED ... USE YOUR OWN BODY HEAT TO
HELP.  GET THE PERSON INTO DRY CLOTHING AND WRAP HIM/HER IN A WARM
BLANKET ...  COVERING THE HEAD AND NECK.  DO NOT WARM EXTREMITIES
FIRST ... THIS DRIVES THE COLD BLOOD TOWARD THE HEART AND CAN LEAD TO
HEART FAILURE.

LAST YEAR ... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHANGED THE WIND-CHILL
FORMULA AND WIND-CHILL ADVISORY AND WARNING CRITERION.  THE LATEST
ADVANCES IN SCIENCE ... TECHNOLOGY AND COMPUTER MODELING HAVE
RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED WIND-CHILL INDEX.  THE NEW INDEX
WILL PROVIDE A MORE ACCURATE... UNDERSTANDABLE AND USEFUL FORMULA
FOR CALCULATING THE POTENTIAL DANGER FROM THE COMBINATION OF WIND
AND COLD TEMPERATURES.

A WIND-CHILL ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THE WIND-CHILL
TEMPERATURE IS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO. A WIND-CHILL
WARNING WILL BE ISSUED WHEN THE WIND-CHILL TEMPERATURE IS LOWER 
THAN 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.

BRIAN E. SMITH      
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE)

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
600 AM CST THU OCT 30 2002

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEBRASKA... 

GOVERNOR MIKE JOHANNS...THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAVE DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF
OCTOBER 27 TO OCTOBER 31 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
NEBRASKA.  EACH DAY THIS WEEK A WINTER WEATHER HAZARD OR TOPIC WILL
BE DISCUSSED.  THESE STATEMENTS...ALONG WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED
SAFETY INFORMATION...CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT: 

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE).

TODAY/S TOPIC IS FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET
 
WHAT IS AN ICE STORM? AN ICE STORM OCCURS WHEN SNOW FALLS THROUGH
A WARM LAYER ABOVE THE GROUND ... CAUSING THE SNOW TO MELT INTO
RAIN AND A SHALLOW LAYER OF COLD AIR ... BELOW FREEZING ... IS FOUND
NEAR THE GROUND.  AS THE RAIN FALLS TO THE GROUND ... IT FREEZES ON ALL
EXPOSED SURFACES THAT ARE BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THIS IS CALLED 
FREEZING RAIN. 

A HEAVY ACCUMULATION OF ICE (GREATER THAN A QUARTER INCH) CAN BRING
DOWN TREES...ELECTRICAL WIRES ... TELEPHONE POLES AND LINES ... AS WELL
AS COMMUNICATION TOWERS. COMMUNICATION AND POWER CAN BE
DISRUPTED FOR DAYS WHILE UTILITY COMPANIES WORK TO REPAIR THE
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.   

IN SOME EVENTS...ICE ACCUMULATION IS ACCOMPANIED ... OR IMMEDIATELY
FOLLOWED BY.. STRONG WINDS... WHICH CAN BREAK POWER LINES AND TREES
THAT ARE WEIGHTED BY HEAVY IC.  

SEVERE ICE STORMS CAUSE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FROM WIDESPREAD POWER
OUTAGES TO IMPOSSIBLE TRAVEL CONDITIONS ... BOTH ON THE GROUND AND IN
THE AIR. 

MINOR ICE ACCUMULATIONS (LESS THAN A QUARTER INCH) DO NOT
GENERALLY CAUSE MAJOR POWER OUTAGES ... BUT DO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT
TRAVEL PROBLEMS.  EVEN A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF ICE CAN CAUSE TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES TO THE MOTORIST AND THE PEDESTRIAN. 
               
SLEET...PRECIPITATION OF SMALL...PARTIALLY MELTED GRAINS OF ICE. 
AS RAINDROPS FALL FROM CLOUDS...THEY PASS THROUGH LAYERS OF AIR
AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES. IF THEY PASS THROUGH A LAYER WITH
A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE FREEZING POINT...THEY TURN INTO SLEET.
SNOWFLAKES THAT HAVE MELTED BY PASSING THROUGH A WARM LAYER 
WILL TURN INTO SLEET IF THEY THEN PASS THROUGH A FREEZING LAYER.
SLEET OFTEN FALLS TOGETHER WITH SNOW AND RAIN...AND MAY DEPOSIT
AN ICY COATING ON EXPOSED SURFACES. SLEET OCCURS ONLY DURING 
THE WINTER...WHILE HAIL...A DIFFERENT FORM OF ICY PRECIPITATION,
MAY FALL AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR.

BRIAN E. SMITH     
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE)
 

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OMAHA/VALLEY NE
600 AM CST FRI OCT 31 2003

...WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN NEBRASKA... 

GOVERNOR MIKE JOHANNS...THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AND THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAVE DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF
OCTOBER 27 TO OCTOBER 31 AS WINTER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK IN
NEBRASKA.  EACH DAY THIS WEEK A WINTER WEATHER HAZARD OR TOPIC WILL
BE DISCUSSED.  THESE STATEMENTS...ALONG WITH MUCH MORE DETAILED
SAFETY INFORMATION...CAN BE VIEWED ON-LINE AT: 

HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE). 
               

TODAY/S TOPICS ARE WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS IN THE HOME AND CAR.
 

LISTED BELOW ARE WINTER SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR HOME.

IN THE HOME...PRIMARY CONCERNS ARE THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF HEAT ...
POWER...AND TELEPHONE SERVICE AND THE SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES
IF STORM CONDITIONS CONTINUE FOR MORE THAN A DAY.

HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS AVAILABLE ...

1.   A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES. 

2.   A BATTERY-POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND A PORTABLE RADIO
     TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY INFORMATION.  THESE MAY BE YOUR ONLY
     LINKS TO THE OUTSIDE. 

3.   EXTRA FOOD AND WATER. HIGH-CALORIE AND NONPERISHABLE FOOD ...
     SUCH AS DRIED FRUIT AND CANDY ARE BEST. 

4.   EXTRA MEDICINE.

5.   EXTRA BABY ITEMS. 

6.   FIRST-AID SUPPLIES. 

7.   HEATING FUEL. FUEL CARRIERS MAY NOT REACH YOU FOR DAYS AFTER A
     SEVERE WINTER STORM. 

8.   AN EMERGENCY HEATING SOURCE SUCH AS A FIREPLACE...WOOD STOVE
     OR SPACE HEATER.  LEARN TO USE THE HEATING SOURCE PROPERLY TO
     PREVENT A FIRE.  HAVE PROPER VENTILATION.
 
9.   A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND SMOKE DETECTOR.  TEST UNITS REGULARLY
     TO ENSURE THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. 

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT AT HOME DURING A WINTER STORM...TRY TO DO THE
FOLLOWING ...
    
1.   STAY INSIDE. 
2.   IF NO HEAT IS AVAILABLE...CLOSE OFF UNNEEDED ROOMS.  STUFF
     TOWELS OR RAGS IN CRACKS UNDER DOORS.  COVER WINDOWS AT NIGHT.
     
3.   CONTINUE TO EAT AND DRINK.  FOOD PROVIDES THE BODY WITH ENERGY
     FOR PRODUCING ITS OWN HEAT.  KEEP THE BODY REPLENISHED WITH
     FLUIDS TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION.

4.   WEAR LAYERS OF LOOSE-FITTING...LIGHTWEIGHT AND WARM CLOTHING.
     REMOVE LAYERS TO AVOID OVERHEATING...PERSPIRING AND
     SUBSEQUENT CHILLING.

IN THE CAR...
EVERY WINTER...PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED IN THEIR CAR DURING WINTER STORMS.
BEING STRANDED IN OPEN COUNTRY IS A REAL HAZARD IN IOWA AND CAN BE A
LIFE-OR-DEATH SITUATION.  THE BEST WAY TO SURVIVE BEING STRANDED IN A
CAR DURING A WINTER STORM IS TO BE PREPARED. 

MAKE SURE YOUR CAR OR TRUCK HAS BEEN WINTERIZED AND IS
MECHANICALLY SOUND.  REMEMBER TO MAKE A WINTER WEATHER SURVIVAL
KIT.  IT SHOULD CONTAIN...BLANKETS/SLEEPING BAGS...FLASHLIGHTS...A FIRST
AID KIT...A KNIFE...HIGH-CALORIE AND NONPERISHABLE FOOD...EXTRA
CLOTHING...A LARGE EMPTY CAN WITH A PLASTIC LID AND TISSUES FOR
SANITARY PURPOSES...A SMALLER CAN AND WATERPROOF MATCHES TO
MELT SNOW FOR DRINKING WATER...A SACK OF SAND...A SHOVEL...A WINDOW
SCRAPER/BRUSH...A TOOL KIT...A TOW ROPE...BOOSTER CABLES...A WATER
CONTAINER...A COMPASS AND ROAD MAPS.  

BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE LATEST FORECAST BEFORE TRAVELING IN THE
WINTER.  IF A WINTER STORM IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING...POSTPONE YOUR
TRIP IF POSSIBLE.  

IF YOU MUST TRAVEL DURING A WINTER STORM...CARRY A WINTER WEATHER
SURVIVAL KIT...KEEP YOUR CAR/S GAS TANK FULL...LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR
DESTINATION...ROUTE AND EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME...CARRY A FULLY
CHARGED CELLULAR TELEPHONE.  

IF YOU BECOME STRANDED IN OPEN COUNTRY...USE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY
TIPS...

STAY IN YOUR CAR OR TRUCK. DISORIENTATION OCCURS QUICKLY IN
WIND-DRIVEN SNOW AND COLD.   RUN THE MOTOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES EACH
HOUR FOR HEAT.   OPEN THE WINDOW A LITTLE FOR FRESH AIR TO AVOID
CARBON-MONOXIDE POISONING.  MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST PIPE IS NOT
BLOCKED.  

MAKE YOURSELF VISIBLE TO RESCUERS.  TURN ON THE DOME LIGHT AT NIGHT
WHEN RUNNING THE ENGINE.  TIE A COLORED CLOTH (PREFERABLY RED) TO
YOUR ANTENNA OR DOOR.  RAISE THE HOOD...INDICATING TROUBLE...AFTER
THE SNOW STOPS FALLING. 

EXERCISE FROM TIME TO TIME BY VIGOROUSLY MOVING ARMS...LEGS...
FINGERS AND TOES TO KEEP YOUR BLOOD CIRCULATING AND TO KEEP WARM. 

BRIAN E. SMITH      
WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST
HTTP://WWW.CRH.NOAA.GOV/OAX (ALL LOWER CASE)

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