Dubois County Emergency Management urges residents to be prepared for winter storm

ByLocal Sources Reading Time: 2 minutes

With the impending winter storm forecast by the National Weather Service that is expected to hit the area with a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain on Sunday, January 5, 2025, Dubois County Emergency Management is urging residents to be prepared.

The storm is forecast to begin in the early morning hours of Sunday and continue through Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service predicts temperatures will remain below freezing throughout the event and into the following weekend, creating potentially hazardous conditions that could persist for an extended period.

Emergency Management has issued several key recommendations for residents:

  • Charge cell phones and other essential devices in case of power interruptions
  • Evaluate the necessity of travel during the storm period
  • Gather emergency supplies for both home and vehicle use

Emergency officials strongly emphasize that residents should not call 911 or local police to check on road conditions, as emergency lines need to remain open for urgent situations. Instead, residents can call 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated information on road conditions, closures, and traffic alerts.

For those who must travel during the storm, the agency has provided a comprehensive vehicle preparedness kit checklist:

  • At least two blankets or a sleeping bag
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Booster (jumper) cables
  • Extra clothing, including boots, hats and gloves
  • Shovel
  • Bottled water and non-perishable foods like granola bars, raisins, nuts, peanut butter or cheese crackers
  • First-aid kit and necessary medications
  • Sand or non-clumping kitty litter for tire traction
  • Cell phone and charger for vehicle use
  • Ice scraper and snow brush

The agency also provided specific safety instructions for stranded motorists:

  • Unless there is a safe structure nearby, do not leave the car, as it provides the best protection
  • Run the engine for 10 minutes every hour to stay warm (an idling car only uses about one gallon of gas per hour)
  • Tie a brightly colored cloth to the car for rescuers to see
  • Make sure the exhaust pipe is free of any blockage to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Keep hydrated by drinking water from your preparedness kit, but don’t eat snow as it will lower body temperature

When traveling, drivers are reminded to always move over or pull to the side of the road for first responders.

Residents can monitor travel conditions through the Indiana Travel Advisory Map at https://www.in.gov/dhs/travel-advisory-map/. The map is updated regularly with county-by-county travel restrictions and road conditions throughout the state.

For additional information on winter weather preparedness, residents are encouraged to visit https://GetPrepared.in.gov.

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