18 Tips to Prepare For Thursday's Subzero Weather

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts residents are no strangers to cold weather. However, it's not often that we experience winds of around 60 miles per hour and windchills falling 25 degrees below zero.

A high wind watch and wind chill watch will be in effect for Massachusetts from Thursday evening to late Thursday night, as wind gusts as high as 65 miles per hour and wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero are anticipated. The wind will be blowing west and will sit at about 15-20 mph.

With that in mind, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is providing tips to residents on how to stay safe during extreme cold conditions. The state agency cautions that exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia, which can be life threatening.

MEMA is offering safety tips to residents both in preparation for extreme cold, and tips for during extreme cold conditions.

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Before Extreme Cold Weather

1. Be Informed by receiving alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during, and after emergencies. Download the Massachusetts Alerts app.
2. Create and review your family emergency plan.
3. Assemble an emergency kit. Add seasonal supplies to your emergency kit such as extra winter clothing and blankets.
4. Prepare your home for possible emergencies.
5. Ensure your vehicle is ready for safe winter driving. Keep the gas tank at least half-full and have a Winter Emergency Car Kit in the trunk.

During Extreme Cold Weather

1. Continue to monitor the media for emergency information.
2. Follow instructions from public safety officials.
3. Minimize outdoor activities for the whole family, including pets.
4. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing instead of a single heavy layer. Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent. Wear a hat, mittens (not gloves), and sturdy waterproof boots to protect your extremities. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
5. Take recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace, or a woodstove to heat your home. Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
6. Make sure emergency generators or secondary heating systems are well ventilated.
7. If you lose heating, move into a single room. Seal off unused areas by stuffing towels against the cracks under the doors, and at night, cover windows with extra blankets or sheets.
8. Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of newspapers covered in plastic to prevent them from freezing. Let a trickle of warm water run from a faucet to keep water moving through your pipes.
9. If your pipes freeze, remove any insulation, pour hot water over them or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water, and completely open all faucets. You can also use a hair dryer, with caution, to thaw pipes. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.
10. Check with your local authorities or Call 2-1-1 to find warming centers or shelters near you.
11. In the event of a power outage, you may need to take additional precautions or go to an emergency shelter to stay warm.
12. Know the symptoms of and watch out for cold-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
13. Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, and those who may need additional assistance.

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