Staying Safe in a Freeze

The CDC recommends keeping doors and windows closed, shutting the doors to rooms you are not using, using towels to fill in the gaps below doors, and closing drapes or blinds. Light your home safely. Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns if you have them.

• Pack dry clothing, a two-way radio, waterproof matches, and paraffin fire starters with you. Do not use alcohol and other mood-altering substances and avoid caffeinated drinks. Avoid walking on ice or getting wet. Carefully watch for signs of cold-weather health problems, like hypothermia and frostbite.
• Lower Thermostat Setting. When temperatures drop below zero or even below freezing for extended periods of time, sometimes your furnace cannot keep up.
• Keep Your Thermostat At A Constant Temperature.
• Clean Or Change Furnace Filter.
• Block Drafts & Close Unused Vents.
• Schedule A Furnace Tune-Up.