Bedford-Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchoel is developing a winter preparation plan for Lawrence County, and residents of the area should follow suit.

She added: “Drivers should ensure that their vehicles are prepared for the winter weather and have their cars filled with the necessary equipment. Residents should have melting ice and other items they may need on hand.”

Every vehicle should have an emergency supply box in the trunk or inside the vehicle. The kit should be checked every six months, and expired items should be replaced regularly.

The vehicle emergency kit should include:

Power outages occur in almost every region of the United States. Some interruptions will last for a short time, some will last for a few hours, but sometimes, they may last for several days. You may be warned of possible power outages, for example if strong winds, heavy rain, snow or ice are forecast. But you may not have any warnings at all.

When assembling your kit, please include ample spare batteries in a wide range of sizes that can be used for flashlights, radios, clocks, camping lights, and any other key tools or equipment that run on spare batteries. Make sure to store all batteries in a dry place at normal room temperature and do not touch the contacts.

As soon as the weather forecast is announced, store shelves may be emptied. Don't fight the crowds, but let your pantry store shelf-stable foods that don't need to be cooked. Good choices include peanut butter (or any nut butter); nuts, seeds, and peanuts; powdered milk and evaporated milk; packaged tuna; canned and dried meat; biscuits, cereal and granola; canned and dried fruit; canned fruit Or vegetable juice; canned vegetables; beef or chicken soup; instant coffee, tea, and mixed powder; and comfort foods such as biscuits and chocolate. Includes pet food suitable for four-legged, feathered, and scaly friends. And don’t forget to put the manual can opener and scissors where you can find them.

You may want to buy in bulk, which is a great way to save money. But pay attention to the shelf life, because discount stores sometimes sell food that is about to expire. The food you buy may need to be stored for days, weeks, or even months.

Want to be able to cook with a propane stove or gas or charcoal grill? Store an extra propane container or extra charcoal bag in the garage. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove in your home, store the wood when the temperature drops.

Because gas stations use electricity to drive their pumps, it’s important to fill up the car’s tank before the storm hits. No power means no fuel. You may want to get gas for the backup generator at the same time. (Portable generators emit carbon monoxide, so don't use them at home or in a garage.) Fully charge all electronic devices and any plug-in hybrid cars to maximize use time.

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