The Missouri Winter Weather Preparedness Week is November 7 through November 11. The National Weather Service, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Missouri’s local emergency managers are teaming up to promote the week.

National Weather Service Offices that serve Missouri and SEMA will be sharing weather safety messaging through social media, targeting specific themes each day during the week. The messaging will be focused on the following items:

Monday, November 7-Winter Weather Terminology
Tuesday, November 8-Ice Safety
Wednesday, November 9-Snow Safety
Thursday, November 10-Extreme Cold, Hypothermia and Frostbite
Friday, November 11-Planning for Snow, Ice and Cold

Often too little attention is paid to the danger posed by prolonged exposure to the cold. In 2021, 76 people in Missouri died as a result of low body temperatures due to prolonged exposure to cold weather.

In 2021 there were more than 7,300 vehicle crashes in Missouri in which snow, sleet, hail or ice were factors, which resulted in 1,995 injuries and 25 deaths.

Missourians should also consider these winter preparations:

-Create a family emergency plan and emergency kit.
-Assemble a vehicle winter emergency kit.
-Avoid driving when conditions could deteriorate.
-Make sure alternate heat and power sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves, kerosene heaters and generators function properly.
-Remember space heaters are potentially deadly when misused.

You can find more winter weather information including safe winter driving techniques, avoiding injury when shoveling and other tips at the website https://www.mo.gov/winter-weather-safety.