Press Release from Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden.
Governor Scott Walker has declared November 10th through November 14th, 2014 as Winter Awareness Week in Wisconsin. The annual campaign, sponsored by Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), its Ready Wisconsin preparedness program and NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS), serves to remind people to be prepared for winter conditions that could threaten their safety.
Sheriff Robert Spoden wants to remind citizens to winterize your car and home, gather items for an emergency kit in your car, and make sure you have a NOAA Weather Radio with fresh batteries. Create or refresh your home and vehicle emergency kits. These could save your life someday so you want to keep them stocked and accessible. Be sure to pack the following in any of your vehicles:
Winter Emergency Kits
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Extra clothing and outerwear including hats and gloves
- Flashlights with extra batteries
- Fist-aid kits
- Shovels, booster cables and windshield scrapers
- Bottled water and non-perishable food (Be sure they do not need a can opener to consume)
- Cell phone chargers
- Sand or cat litter for traction
- Be sure to have supplies available for the number of occupants you would transport
Winter Driving in Wisconsin
Remember as the first snowfall is closely upon us, as drivers, we need to create distance between vehicles and reduce our speeds. Always be sure all occupants in your vehicle are wearing their seatbelts and minimize your distractions while you travel.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office will continue to promote awareness and safety throughout the winter season. By taking the appropriate steps to prepare for the conditions, we can collectively work to minimize the number of accidents occurring during the winter season. For those situations we cannot avoid, we want to be prepared to survive through them with the right tools.
Stay tuned to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office webpage and Facebook for continuing safety and preparedness tips and weather alerts throughout the season.
ROBERT D. SPODEN
SHERIFF