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Motorists Stranded without Food or Water

Can you imagine being stranded in your car for hours without food or water? That happened to thousands of motorists in Wisconsin last year after a major storm. WISN reports:

The 18-inches of snow that fell in the Madison area presented the first test of a new state emergency communication system. The new system was enacted last year after a major storm stranded motorists on a stretch of the interstate for up to 12 hours. That scene of nearly 2,000 motorists, many without food or water, stranded on a snow interstate is one that state officials said that they never wanted to see repeated.

The sad thing is, no one needs to be stranded without food, water or medical supplies. Buying a car emergency kit is not a luxury for some anymore. It’s a necessity for every responsible individual. Not having water can lead to your death if you go too long without it, and there are a multitude of cases where people did not receive the medical attention or help they needed on time in an emergency. Don’t let that happen to you. Prepare now for road emergencies with a car emergency kit that has everything you need to evacuate or keep you safe and warm, while you wait for help.

Source:
http://www.wisn.com/news/21925862/detail.html

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Prepare for Weather-related House Fires

Some house fires are caused by accidents or negligence on the homeowner’s part. However, some are completely weather-related, as with a house fire that took place in recent days in Wisconsin. The Door County Advocate reports:

A downdraft due to high winds was the culprit in a furnace fire at the home of Jeff Miller.

The furnace loaded with propane ignited, said Sturgeon Bay Police Chief Tim Herlache, causing flames to shoot out of the front of the furnace, igniting insulation. The homeowner got the fire under control with a fire extinguisher, which saved the structure, Herlache said. Smoke damage and a lack of a heat source sent three adults and one child in that family to a hotel Wednesday.

Jeff was prepared with a fire extinguisher, which made a difference. It could have been worse for him and his family without one. Whether you’re a renter or a homeowner, it’s important to have fire extinguishers (that work) ready and locatable in the event of an emergency. Also, if you have to bunker down at a hotel for some time, having a home or car kit with food and water can help to defray some of your expenses, while you’re away from home.

Source:
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091212/ADV01/912120393&located=rss

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Snow Emergency Causes Major Power Outages

Governor Doyle of Wisconsin has issued a state-of-emergency because of a severe snow storm that left some parts of the state with  18 inches of snow. The state is facing significant challenges because of the snow storm, including widespread power outages.

Alliant Energy spokesman Scott Reigstad said the storm cut power to about 22,000 people in southern Wisconsin. We Energies officials said about 30,000 people around southeastern Wisconsin lost power.

As temperatures fell across southern Wisconsin, thousands of residents were still without power and, likewise, heat Wednesday night, including about 500 homes in the Madison metro area.

Some residents in Monona lost power due to the storm. Their electricity was restored by Wednesday evening, but plenty of homes east and south of Madison, including Monona and Fitchburg, are still without power, and utilities will continue to work all night to restore power.

Being without electricity and heat during a snow storm is not fun. It can be dangerous, in fact, if you’re caught unprepared. Having a few blankets and candles, as some residents are reported to have relied on while waiting for the power to come back on, is the best option if you can avoid it. That’s certainly not want you want to rely on if you have young children or the elderly to take care of. The better option is to have a disaster preparedness kit that will suffice during winter emergencies.

Source:
http://www.channel3000.com/news/21914735/detail.html

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Wisconsin Snow Storm Causes State of Emergency

What would you do if your state declared an emergency, activating the National Guard to help if necessary? This took place in Wisconsin this week, when Governor Jim Doyle declared a state-of-emergency after a major snow storm. Many counties were hit with unprecedented snow fall. The Pierce County Herald reports:

Falk’s county was among the hardest hit. Eighteen-and-a-half inches of snow fell southwest of Madison Tuesday night and yesterday. The National Weather Service says that’s the most in the state. Other places got 6-to-17 inches.

All of Wisconsin’s state government shut down for at least one day because of the snow emergency. That hasn’t happened in more than 50 years. Schools and colleges shut down as well.

Snow storms can have a devastating impact on your ability to drive your car, conduct business or stay warm. It’s important not to take snow fall for granted and rely on heat and electricity in your home only. Instead, prepare for snow emergencies so that you won’t suffer much if everything does shut down around you. Make sure your emergency kit includes winter preparedness items, in addition to typical supplies or at least, add those to the home, car, and pet survival kits you purchase.

Source:
http://www.piercecountyherald.com/event/article/id/22746/group/News/

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State Tells Citizens to Bunker Down

The state of Wisconsin is expecting blizzard-like conditions over the upcoming days. In response to the storm, emergency officials are warning citizens to bunker down and stay home:

State emergency officials want people to stay home. People who must travel should prepare an emergency supply kit for their vehicles and monitor their local media for storm updates.

They are predicting winds to be as fast as 40 mph to 50 mph, which could be dangerous for car travelers. Hopefully, many people in Wisconsin have taken the steps they need to bunker down at home. Could you do it? Do you have all that you need for at least three days?

It’s one thought to bunker down in a home with the electricity still turned on, running water coming through the faucet and extra food in the refrigerator. What if that was not available for three days, which has happened many times and could happen again in some places?

You don’t have to wait for your state to tell you to bunker down before you start thinking through emergency preparedness. Take a weekend to experiment with the idea of living in your home successfully for three days, despite any power outages. Write down a list of needed supplies that you were missing, and then let 1800Prepare.com help you fill in the gaps.

Source:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-winterstorm,0,4100179.story