LINCOLN, Ill. – Central Illinois missed out on the brunt of winter weather early Monday morning, but the National Weather Service wants people to be ready for when it eventually arrives.
The awareness campaign is part of the NWS’ Winter Weather Preparedness Week. The campaign helps people know what they need to do for cold, ice, and snow at home and on the road.
Ed Shimon is a Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the NWS Lincoln Office. He says physical preparedness is necessary, but having mental awareness, such as knowing the weather forecast, is something that’s even more vital.
“When you get caught off-guard, then you don’t have that mental stability, like ‘Oh I was expecting this, I know that I need to do this, that, and the other, and I have this in place and I have my emergency kit’,” Shimon said.
For those traveling, Shimon says emergency kits should include extra clothing, blankets, non-perishable food, flashlights, water, weather radios, and batteries. He says people should have their cars inspected for winter conditions, and to slow down on roads.
For those at the home, Shimon says people should have their furnaces inspected as soon as possible to ensure it is working properly. He says that’s because furnaces can be more likely to fail in colder weather. Shimon says homeowners should also have a strong shovel for snow, but to make sure to pace yourself while shoveling snow.
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