Winter Weather Awarness Week

Next week is Winter Weather Awareness Week and people should think ahead of precautions that need to be taken to ensure safety when winter weather strikes. The first snowfall of the season occurred on Halloween which was a wake-up call for many people.

Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says there were several accidents that day and vehicles that went into the ditch. He says it’s important to slow down when there is snow and ice on the roadways, and that also applies to 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

Sheriff Cruze says you can look at 511mn.org to find out about road conditions and maybe leave early or cancel a trip until the weather conditions improve. He says if you go in the ditch, it’s important to stay in your vehicle, but if you get a ride or leave on foot, put a note on your dash so that law enforcement will know where you are and not spend resources trying to find you.

Sheriff Cruze says it’s a good idea to have items in your vehicle that will assist you if you get stalled such as energy bars, a phone charger, extra clothing and blankets, a sleeping bag, candles, coffee can, etc. He says as the ice forms on bodies of water, make sure it’s thick enough to support you and remember that ice depth can vary on different parts of a lake.

Sheriff Cruze says you should make sure the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your home are functioning and change batteries, if necessary. He says if you’re outdoors in the winter, wear layers, and don’t exert yourself if you are shoveling snow – take breaks. You can find more winter safety tips on Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s website (dps.mn.gov).