“It’s best to have a survival kit ready with a flashlight and batteries in case you need it so you are not scrambling around when the time comes,” he said.

In preparation for the upcoming winter season, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management are encouraging residents to prepare for winter storms as well.

Those agencies suggest lowering the thermostat or closing off sections of the house to conserve fuel, dressing appropriately to reduce the threat of hypothermia or frostbite, avoiding overexertion during snow removal or while walking in deep snow and avoiding traveling, if possible.

“Seventy percent of winter storm-related deaths are related to traffic crashes on ice- or snow-covered roads,” the FEMA press release stated.

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For more information:

• FEMA’s Winter Weather Awareness Page:

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/winter.shtm

• National Weather Service Winter Weather Awareness:

http://www.weather.gov/om/winter/index.shtml

• Iowa’s Be Ready Winter Weather Fact Sheet:

http://www.bereadyiowa.org/WinterStormFactSheet.pdf