Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Emergency management urges precautions after weekend winter storm
Summary
Sedgwick County Emergency Management reviewed forecasting, health and travel risks from recent winter weather and urged residents to prepare kits, follow generator safety and check on vulnerable neighbors.
Julie Simpson of Sedgwick County Emergency Management briefed commissioners on the local impacts of a recent winter storm and practical steps residents should take to stay safe. "Winter weather forecasting is a little bit trickier than it is for summertime storms," Simpson said, explaining that small temperature differences can change rain to freezing rain, sleet or snow. She listed top risks — car accidents, hypothermia, carbon-monoxide poisoning and power outages — and urged residents to keep carbon-monoxide detectors, keep generators at least 20 feet from doors and windows, and check on neighbors and vulnerable people.
The presentation also reviewed personal and pet safety measures, such as dressing in layers, limiting outdoor time, warming frostbite properly and not using unsafe heat sources. Simpson pointed attendees toward county resources and mass-notification signups, including CivicReady and the county health department, and praised local utilities and media for rapid response and communication during the outage period.
