Snow plow going down a street that is covered in snow
Hazard

Severe Winter Weather

Winter Weather consists of winter storm events in which the main types of precipitation are snow, sleet, or freezing rain.

Relevant Options

Purchase backup generators for the water infrastructure system to provide a sustained minimal level of water services in the event of a catastrophic power loss. Encourage residents to avoid unnecessary energy use at peak times during extreme hot or extreme cold temperatures. Optimize the use of salt and sand to reduce impacts on natural areas and roadway maintenance. Consider opportunities to add multi-modal transportation options (e.g., walking, biking, transit, rail) to areas isolated by threats. Consider how multi-modal transportation options can serve as an additional Locate funds to replant established trees, which offer stormwater management as well as cooling benefits during hot weather, after extreme weather disasters. During extreme heat and severe winter weather, organize community check-ins on elderly and sensitive populations. Program can be run at the neighborhood level through buddy systems where neighbors are Provide emergency service staff information about where vulnerable populations are located. Identify and plan for the use of municipal and county facilities (e.g., library, community buildings) as temporary shelter from storms or as cooling centers. Consider partnering with area nonprofits and Work with local medical providers and hospitals to ensure that medical facilities are prepared to meet any increased demand because of hazardous events. Develop new policy that requires private property owners to maintain sidewalks or accessible route to property. Work with utilities and community partners to develop a weatherization program for renters. Doing so will reduce heating and cooling bills, especially Partner with banks to increase household emergency savings accounts. Increase adoption of distributed energy resources such as solar and wind by lowering financial and regulatory barriers to permitting and development. When installed with battery backup or emergency power Partner with community groups to proactively reach out to vulnerable people before and during extreme weather. Provide budget billing and deferred payment plans for families impacted by extreme events. Require that all publicly funded properties be energy efficient. Use the best available science and resilient design features in transportation infrastructure to improve resiliency to extreme climate events. Develop mechanisms to alert and protect outdoor workers and vulnerable populations from extreme heat and cold. Create a safety plan in accordance with FEMA's Incident Command System (ICS) requirements. ICS provides an organizational structure capable of responding Create or expand a program to give out space heaters. Ensure the program educates recipients about space heaters' impact on utility bills.

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