Personal preparedness is key to staying safe and healthy in any type of storm.
And in a snow storm like we are getting ready for you want to make sure you have plenty of supplies in your home.
KHQA's Jarod Wells found out what you need to know to make sure you and your family is ready for this Winter Storm 2011 report.
Adams County Emergency Management Agency Director John Simon says, "When we're looking at this storm here we want to make sure that people are able to stay at home and hunker down essentially for a couple of days.
Simon recommends having three to five days worth of food, water, medicine and other necessities just in case you are stuck in your home.
If power goes out your going to want a battery operated radio, flashlights and plenty of blankets, especially if you don't have any type of portable heater.
Simon said, "The key would be to find one room of the house and isolate that room from the rest of the house. Typically an inside room with no exterior walls works best. Put those blankets up and over the doors to try and insolate it, don't forget to put it at the bottom and you can put your family in that room and stay relatively warm."
If you do have a portable heater be sure you only use it when you are in the house and be sure to give it proper ventilation. And it's a good idea to have everything you need to operate a charcoal or gas grill just in case you can't use any household appliances.
Simon said, "People can live on peanut butter and jelly for a couple of days. It may not be the best thing in the cupboard, but they can live on that. Whatever works for the individual, but certainly some sort of a camp stove or propane or charcoal grill could be a good way to have a hot meal during a power outage."
When you're shoveling snow make sure to take it easy. Don't exert yourself too much, take plenty of breaks and stay hydrated.
Simon said, "Really use some good common sense. Don't be getting up on roofs and things like that to try and move that snow."
And remember there are rules and regulations regarding snow removal.
Simon said, "Shouldn't put it out on the street, it just makes it more difficult for road crews to clear that."
If you are able to get out of your house, Simon says be sure to have a change of clothes, blankets, flashlights and a shovel in your vehicle.
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John Simon told KHQA he held a meeting Monday afternoon with area emergency management agencies. They will be available for assistance around the clock. In fact, the emergency center will have staff on hand starting Tuesday morning at 8 a.m.
The Adams County 911 Center also has a full staff this week as it prepares for an increase in calls. As the storm worsens, Director Steve Rowlands says operators will have to prioritize life-threatening situations versus everything else.
"Normally, when we get 911 calls, we try to respond with a public safety agency. But if they're impacted by the weather for safety reasons, they will be giving us guidance shortly on low priority vs. High priority calls and to have some kind of means to determine how quickly we'd respond to any given incident," said Rowlands.
Rowlands says it's important to know when and when not to call 911. You should make the call if it requires police, ambulance or fire response. Do not call 911 for power outages or problems with traffic lights. Though a downed power line is a reason to call 911.
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The Adams County Red Cross is on standby as this Winter Storm 2011 makes its way across the Tri-states.
All response volunteers and backup disaster teams are on call. At the moment, the Red Cross is determining which locations throughout the area will be most prone to weather-related assistance.
Volunteers will then set up shop in those locations throughout the next couple of days. They'll have the necessities on hand for stranded motorists and people without power.
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