Tips

Cold weather

Officially launched in April of 2007, the city’s emergency preparedness program is designed to reach all aspects of the city’s demographics through outreach services to neighborhoods, schools, community-groups, and businesses. Now that we’re in the thick of winter, ReadyMinnetonka offers the following cold weather tips.

Be prepared

  • Keep ahead of the winter storm by listening for the latest weather statements, watches and warnings, and understand what those terms mean.
  • Be equipped for the worst. Carry a winter survival kit in your car, especially when traveling in rural or open areas. Try to travel with others.

Winter driving

  • Yield to snowplows, and give them plenty of room to operate.
  • If you become stranded in your vehicle, stay with it until help arrives. Do not try to walk for help during a blizzard, as you could easily get lost in whiteout conditions.

Outdoor activities

  • Dress in layered clothing and avoid overexertion during winter storms or extreme cold.
  • Shoveling snow is very hard work and may induce a heart attack—so take it easy while shoveling.
  • If you will be snowmobiling, avoid alcohol. Most snowmobile deaths are alcohol related. Take a snowmobile course offered by the DNR or check with your snowmobile dealer.

Home Safety

  • Heating devices are a major cause of residential fires in Minnesota. Turn off portable heating devices when you are away from home or retire for the evening. Have a working, UL-listed smoke alarm on every level of your home and in every bedroom.
  • Have your fireplace and chimney professionally inspected before winter.
  • Carbon monoxide is most likely to accumulate inside homes during winter. Check your heating systems and ensure your home has proper ventilation. Install a UL-listed carbon monoxide detector that sounds an alarm.

For more information about ReadyMinnetonka or to be added to the ReadyMinnetonka Alerts listserv, email ready@eminnetonka.com or call 952.939.8334.

Finding your house in an emergency

Visible house numbers are vital when there is an emergency call for fire, police, or the ambulance service. To assist emergency personnel in finding you quickly, follow these tips to ensure visibility of your house number from the street:

  • Locate numbers next to front door.
  • Use contrasting colors and ensure numbers are at least four inches high.
  • Use numerals, not words.
  • Use reflective numbers if possible.
  • Have address near lighting to illuminate the numbers.
  • Clear bushes and vegetation from the area around the address.

What to do in a power outage

Most Minnetonka homes have air-conditioning, high-speed internet, wide-screen televisions and modern kitchen appliances. But imagine—what would happen if there were no electricity for several days? What would it mean to you and your family? Would you be prepared?

ReadyMinnetonka recommends that every family take some time to talk about the risks you may face and how your family might be affected in event of a long-term power outage.

For example:

  • In the summer you might be hot with no air-conditioning, but what would happen in the winter? Would your family be able to stay warm if your furnace didn’t work?
  • How about cooking? Most gas stoves will not work without electricity, and electric stoves most definitely wouldn’t work. How would you prepare food without electricity? Here’s a hint: think of creative ways to use your gas barbeque.
  • Would you even be able to open a can of food? ReadyMinnetonka recommends that every home have at least one manual can opener.

ReadyMinnetonka recommends that your family discuss your risks and make a plan.

Always have cash!

Many people rely on cash machines or credit cards when traveling, but you should always have cash with you. In some emergencies if you are without cash you could find yourself out of luck!

Remember the large power outage experienced by more than one-third of the nation a couple of years ago? No cash machines or banks were open. Hotels were full. Since credit card services did not work, major purchases like airline tickets required cash. While Minnetonka was not affected, it could be the next time. Be sure to plan ahead to manage these types of emergencies

Remember your paper map!

While many people rely on internet mapping programs or GPS to plan a car trip, you should always have a paper map in your car. The convenience is hard to beat, it’s accurate, and in case of severe weather it might help you avoid an emergency. If you encounter severe weather while traveling by car, listen to the radio for a National Weather Service advisory. Warnings are usually given by counties. With a paper map that shows county names and boundaries, you can determine where you are in relationship to the storm and change your direction of travel to avoid the worst of the storm. Without a paper map, you may find yourself driving right into the most dangerous part of the storm.

Storing gasoline safely

Did you know that there is a safe place to store gasoline? In event of a widespread power outage you may not be able to purchase gasoline. Not only power outages but other emergencies may make gasoline difficult to obtain. Many of Minnetonka’s residents can remember the gasoline shortages in the 1970s. There is a safe place to store gasoline. It’s in the gas tank of your car. ReadyMinnetonka recommends always filling your tank before your gauge reaches the ¼ mark. Better yet, fill it every time it drops below a ½ tank. Then, you will always have some gasoline in reserve.

Telephones and power outages

The Minnetonka Fire Department wants you and your family to be prepared in case of an emergency. To help with emergency preparedness, the fire department offers a new program, ReadyMinnetonka, with tips and information on how to get ready for any emergency. This week, residents are reminded that in the event of a widespread power outage, most telephones will still operate because in most cases, the phone lines are independent of the electrical service that provides power. Cordless phones that depend on electricity to work are the exception. In addition, if the power failure is lengthy or widespread, cell phones may not work. ReadyMinnetonka recommends that each household have at least one corded phone. In a power failure, disconnect all cordless phones and plug in the corded phone, which will most likely still operate.

If you’re planning a neighborhood gathering this spring or summer, the Minnetonka Fire Department would love to be invited! We’ll talk with you and your neighbors about emergency events and how you can be better prepared. Call Kevin Fox, Minnetonka Fire Department, at 952.939.8339.

Prepare your family for an emergency

The Minnetonka Fire Department wants you and your family to be prepared in case of an emergency. To help with emergency preparedness, the fire department offers a new program, ReadyMinnetonka, with tips and information on how to get ready for any emergency. This week, think about putting together an emergency kit for your family, with supplies to last you three, five or seven days. Items that should be in a seven-day kit—the best level or preparedness—include:

  • Adequate water (one gallon per person, per day)
  • Non-perishable or canned food
  • A non-electric can opener
  • Prescription and over-the-counter medication
  • Three flashlights and extra batteries
  • A NOAA weather radio with extra batteries
  • Cash
  • Extra clothes and shoes
  • Blankets or sleeping bags for each family member
  • First aid and tool kits
  • Entertainment items
  • Extra supplies for special-needs family members (diapers, formula, etc.)
  • Dust masks
  • Road maps
  • Duct tape and plastic sheeting

If you’re planning a neighborhood gathering this spring or summer, the Minnetonka Fire Department would love to be invited! We’ll talk with you and your neighbors about emergency events and how you can be better prepared. Call Kevin Fox, Minnetonka Fire Department, at 952.939.8339. For more information about ReadyMinnetonka, visit the ReadyMinnetonka page.