December 13, 2024
Winter weather: What to know
- Prepare now to protect yourself, your loved ones and your home:
- Sign up for Peak Alerts to receive emergency alerts for El Paso and Teller County.
- If you are under a winter storm warning, find shelter right away.
- Get out of the cold immediately if you notice signs of hypothermia or frostbite.
- If an emergency has forced you to evacuate your home, or disrupted your access to essential services, locate open shelters and disaster relief services near you.
Don’t hesitate to get help.
- If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 38255 to connect with Colorado Crisis Services Hotline OR call/text 988 to speak with a trained crisis worker at the National Suicide Hotline.
- Call 211 to speak with a trained specialist to help you navigate a comprehensive database of resources to help you find assistance. This free, multilingual resources can help you find referrals for food, housing, utilities, home repair, emergency shelter, clothing, transportation, taxes, mental health, senior issues, substance use, medical care and more.
- Contact the Disaster Distress Helpline for year-round 24/7 disaster crisis counseling. Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
- Español: Llama o envía un mensaje de texto 1-800-985-5990 presiona “2.”
- For Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers: To connect directly to an agent in American Sign Language, call 1-800-985-5990 from your videophone. ASL Support is available 24/7.
- Explore Pikes Peak Rising 360, a digital platform that provides expert-curated and scientifically backed mental health and self-care resources.
Prepare ahead for winter weather
- Sign up for free emergency alerts and learn what types of alerts you may receive:
- A WATCH means be prepared.
- A WARNING means take action!
- Make sure you’re able to heat your home safely, keep out the cold with insulation, caulking and weather stripping.
- Learn how to keep your pipes from freezing.
- Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure to have backup batteries on hand.
- Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Remember the needs of your pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
- Plan for where you will go if your home becomes too cold (such as a friend’s house, a public library or a warming center).
How to stay safe during winter storms
- Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside be sure to wear multiple layers of warm clothing. Watch out for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
- Drink plenty of warm fluids and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow or walking in the snow.
- Take steps to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by only using generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop of oven.
- Check on your neighbors and loved ones. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.
- During a winter storm, stay off the roads if possible. If you’re trapped in your car, stay inside.
- When driving in the snow, be sure to:
- Use extreme caution when driving on ice.
- Be aware of branches, trees and ice that may fall.
- Go slow and brake early.
- Leave space between your vehicle and others, giving extra room to snowplows.
- Give yourself extra time to commute.
Frostbite and hypothermia 101: Learning the signs and what do to
Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers and tows
- Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
- What to do: Go to a warm room, soak in warm waer. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency, and you should seek medical attention immediately.
- Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech or drowsiness.
- What to do: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first – check, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
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