For Immediate Release:

February 13, 2015

Prepare your home for winter weather

“It is important to prepare your home and your family for emergencies before they happen,” said Deputy Director Serena DiMaso, liaison to the County’s Office of Emergency Management. “The steps you take now will make all of the difference in keeping your home and family safe.”

As you prepare for the extreme cold, take these steps to get your home ready:

• Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside and kept clear.
• Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
• Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
• Insulate your home by installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic from the inside to keep cold air out.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF.

FEMA recommends that if your pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate).

“If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for emergency heating, have your chimney or flue inspected each year,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the County Fire Marshal. “Also, if you’ll be using a fireplace, wood stove, or kerosene heater, install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Test them monthly, and replace batteries twice yearly.”

For more information on preparing for cold weather, the County has compiled a Winter Emergency Preparation Checklist that is available on the County website at www.visitmonmouth.com.

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