> From: Governor's Office of Emergency Services
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> January 9, 2007
>
> CONTACT: Eric Lamoureux or Greg Renick
> (OES) 916-845-8400
> Mike Bowman
> Health Services (916) 440-7660
>
> SACRAMENTO: In response to forecasts for unusually cold
> temperatures throughout much of California in the coming days,
> officials with the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES)
> and the California Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) today
> urged Californians to prepare themselves, their family members, and
> their animals for the possible effects of the inclement weather.
>
> The National Weather Service has reported to OES that temperatures
> will drop into the 20s and 30s Wednesday night into Thursday, followed
> by daytime temperatures in the mid 40s in most areas. On Friday and
> into the weekend, temperatures will drop further, reaching the high
> teens to low 20s in most areas at night, and continued daytime lows
> in the mid 40s.
>
> "Exposure to extreme cold can be dangerous to your health," said
> Dr. Mark Horton, State Public Health Officer. "To protect yourself
> in extremely cold weather remember to wear several layers of
> clothing, travel with caution and be alert for the symptoms of
> exposure. Monitor family members and those around you who are at
> greatest risk from exposure, such as seniors, young children and
> people with underlying illnesses or chronic conditions."
>
> "The safety of all Californians is our utmost concern," said OES
> Director Henry Renteria. "The emergency advance planning efforts
> we engage in with our state and local partners ensure that any and
> all support that the State can provide local governments over the
> coming days is available."
>
> Coordination with partner State agencies currently includes the
> California National Guard and the California Department of Food and
> Agriculture working with local government officials to make armories
> and fair grounds available to supplement their sheltering needs.
> Currently, there are 11 California National Guard armories that have
> been opened as shelters from the cold in Gilroy , Sunnyvale , Santa
> Cruz, Merced , Sylmar, Ventura , Los Angeles ( Federal Ave ), Culver
> City, Santa Ana , Fullerton , and Glendale . They are opened daily
> from
> 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
>
> Horton and Renteria urged Californians to take action today to reduce
> their risk of health-related problems and property damage. They also
> stressed the importance of checking on family members and neighbors
> who are elderly or have special needs.
>
> Actions that can be taken to help protect against severe cold and
> freezing temperatures include:
>
> 1) Preparing your home and family
> - Review and update your family emergency plan.
> - Replenish your emergency supply kits including
> battery-operated radio and flashlights.
> - Have extra blankets on hand.
> - Have a plan for meeting the needs of infants, children,
> seniors and those with disabilities.
> - Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that
> may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or
> equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree
> branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a
> storm.
> - Move family pets indoors or to an enclosure out of the
> elements. Likewise protect livestock or other large animals from the
> cold weather.
> - Move plants indoors or cover with blankets or plastic to
> prevent freezing.
> - Maintain a sufficient supply of heating fuel.
> - Insulate pipes and allow faucets to drip during cold weather
> to avoid freezing.
> - Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in
> your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional
> risk, as people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the
> necessary safety precautions.
> - Do NOT bring heating devices into the home that are intended
> for outdoor use, such as barbecues and other cooking equipment or
> other fuel burning devices. These items can produce deadly carbon
> monoxide.
> - Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
> - Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof
> to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow - or
> water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.
>
> 2) Dressing for the Weather
> - Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm
> clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments
> should be tightly woven and water repellent.
> - Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
> - Wear a hat.
> - Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
>
> 3) Traveling with caution
> - Have your car winterized and make sure it is working properly.
> - Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate
> tread.
> - Augment your car's emergency supply kit with a shovel,
> windshield scraper and blankets.
> - Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter
> season.
> - Check road conditions before departing.
> - Let others know of your route and your estimated time of
> arrival.
>
> 4) Recognizing symptoms of exposure
> - Confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and shivering are signs of
> hypothermia. Possibly: if you experience any of these symptoms, seek
> medical attention immediately.
> - Gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy
> skin are symptoms of frostbite. If you experience any of these
> symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
> - In the case of overexposure to freezing temperatures, remove
> wet clothing and immediately warm the body with a blanket or warm
> fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid caffeine or alcohol.
>
> For more information on preparing for emergencies, visit the
> Governor's Office of Emergency Services Web site at
> http://www.oes.ca.gov.
> For health-related information, visit the Department of Health
> Services Web site at http://www.dhs.ca.gov.