NWS Indianapolis Public Information Statement 06:30 AM EST Wed Nov 19 2008

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INDIANAPOLIS IN
630 AM EST WED NOV 19 2008

THIS WEEK IS WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN INDIANA. THE BEST
WAY TO STAY SAFE AND WARM OUTDOORS IS TO BE PREPARED.

MONITOR WEATHER FORECASTS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES
OUTLOOKS ON STORM POTENTIAL DAYS BEFORE IT ARRIVES. NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE WINTER WEATHER WATCHES GIVE UP TO TWO DAYS NOTICE OF
IMPENDING STORMS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WINTER WEATHER WARNINGS OR
ADVISORIES GIVE UP TO 24 HOURS NOTICE OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SOON TO
IMPACT YOUR AREA.

DRESS WARMLY...WEARING SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHES WHICH IS WARMER THAN
A SINGLE THICK LAYER. WEAR GLOVES...A HAT AND SCARF OR TURTLENECK TO
MINIMIZE EXPOSED SKIN.

TRY AND STAY DRY. FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING THAT CAN KEEP YOU DRY CAN
PREVENT HYPOTHERMIA. CLOTHING THAT INSULATES WELL OR REMOVES BODY
PERSPIRATION ALSO REDUCES YOUR CHANCE OF DEVELOPING FROSTBITE OR
HYPOTHERMIA.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE AWAY FROM SHELTER...YOUR MAIN CONCERNS ARE
TO STAY WARM AND DRY. PREPARE A LEAN-TO OR SNOW CAVE TO HELP PROTECT
YOU FROM PRECIPITATION AND WIND. BUILD A FIRE FOR HEAT AND TO ATTRACT
ATTENTION.

FOR YOUR VEHICLE...HAVE IT WINTERIZED...INCLUDING A CHECK OF THE
ANTI-FREEZE...WIPER BLADES AND TIRE TREAD AND PRESSURE. GOOD TIRES
IMPROVE STEERING ABILITY AND SHORTEN BRAKING DISTANCE ON SLIPPERY
ROADS. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES...TEST THEM SO YOU KNOW
HOW THEY WORK IN EMERGENCY STOPS. FREQUENTLY CHECK WINDOW WASHER
FLUID LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SO YOU DON'T RUN OUT WHEN YOU NEED
IT MOST.

THE BEST WAY TO STAY SAFE IS TO HAVE A PLAN...TO KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND
TO USE COMMON SENSE. ON THURSDAY WE WILL DISCUSS MORE PREPAREDNESS
TIPS AND CREATING EMERGENCY KITS.