Winter is on its way, and Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) advises all residents to be prepared for the worst during Nov. 10-14, “Winter Hazard Awareness Week.”
As part of Winter Hazard Awareness Week, HSEM offers the following winter driving tips:
• Be able to be seen – clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, lights and reflectors. Equip your car with good wiper blades and keep an ample supply of windshield washer fluid.
• Get a feel for the road – When you first start out, accelerate carefully to test wheel-spin and brake gently to test skidding.
• Increase your following distance – Ice or snow can multiply your stopping distance up to 10 times.
• Make turns slowly and gradually – Heavily traveled intersections can become “polished” and slick. Brake before you come to a curve, not while you are in it.
There are two good ways to stay informed about upcoming severe winter weather.
One is to keep a NOAA weather radio set to Alert in your home. The other is to sign up for the CodeRED notification service, which will send messages to your home phone, cell phone and email for emergency announcements.
Sign up using the CodeRED link on the Cook or Lake county website, or by calling the Cook County Sheriff ’s Office at 218-387-3030 or Lake County Sheriff ’s Office at 218-834 -8385.
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