If indoors:

• Stay indoors and dress warmly.
• Conserve fuel.
• Lower the thermostat to 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night.
• Close off unused rooms.
• Listen to the radio or television to get the latest information.
• Residents need to be extra careful when using supplemental heating units.
  • Make sure that all-combustible materials such as drapes or chairs are at least three feet away from any heating unit.
  • Avoid using flammable liquids to start fireplaces.
  • Do not leave a fireplace unattended.
  • Check your smoke detector to make sure it is working properly.
• NEVER use the oven to heat your home.
• NEVER use a gas range to heat your home.
• Be aware of the fire danger from space heaters and candles.

If outdoors

• Dress warmly.
• Wear loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing.
  • Layers can be removed to prevent perspiration and chill.
• Outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellant.
• Mittens are warmer than gloves because fingers generate warmth when they touch each other.
• Keep dry.
• Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.

Cold Weather Terms

• Freeze is a condition that exists when, over a widespread area, the surface temperature of the air remains below freezing (32^oF).
• Freeze is a term used for the condition when vegetation is injured by these low air temperatures, regardless if Frost is deposited.
• Frost is a cover of ice crystals produced by deposition of atmospheric water directly on a surface at or below freezing.
• Wind Chill Factor is the cooling effect of any combination of temperature and wind, expressed as the loss of body heat.
• Freeze Warning is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) to make farmers and the public aware of anticipated freeze conditions.
• Hard Freeze Warning is issued by the NWS to make farmers and the public aware of anticipated freeze conditions that are of four hour duration or greater, below 28^oF.