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Prepare for a cold, windy La Niña winter, officials warn

December 3, 2010 | By LocalHealthGuide More

Seattle and the Pacific Northwest should brace for a colder and wetter than average winter due to the the effect of La Niña, a weather pattern caused by cooler than normal waters in the Pacific off the coast of South America, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warns.

Growing La Niña in the Pacific: Higher than normal sea surface temperatures indicated by yellows and reds, while cooler temperatures are depicted in blues and purples. Green indicates near-normal conditions. -- NASA photo

To help people prepare, the Washington State Department of Health has issued the following tips on how to get ready for the storms, bitter cold and flooding that are more likely to occur in our region during La Niña winter.

Map showing the probability of rain and snow across the country due to the effect of La Nina

Predicted Precipitation Probability Dec-Jan-Feb / NOAA

Well water safety:

Flooding due to heavy rains and melting snow can make your well water unsafe to drink. Flood waters carry diseases and other contaminants that require precautions to prevent illness.

If your well has flooded, assume that the drinking water in your home is contaminated. Use only boiled or disinfected well water or purchased bottled water for drinking, brushing teeth, dishwashing, preparing food, and making ice.

Boil well water for one minute at a rolling boil and then cool before use to make your water safe to drink.

It’s wise to keep an emergency supply of drinking water on-hand — a gallon of water per person, per day.

Emergency supplies:

The Department of Health has posted a checklist of emergency supplies you should have on hand on their website that you can download.

Among the recommended items are:

Canned foods and a can opener;

“special needs” items such as infant formula and medications;

camp stove or barbecue (use outdoors); blankets;

battery powered radio;

flashlight with extra batteries;

food, water, andsupplies for pets;

and a safe alternative heat source.

Carbon monoxide poisoning:

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a major concern during power outages. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can’t be seen or smelled. It can kill a person in minutes.

Hundreds of people die accidentally in the United States every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by appliances that are used improperly or that are malfunctioning.

Carbon monoxide can build up so quickly that people are overcome before they can get help. Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector to warn families when carbon monoxide levels become unsafe.

Sources of carbon monoxide (www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/IAQ/co_fact_sheet.htm) include blocked chimney flues and gas or kerosene heaters used indoors; never burn charcoal in a fireplace.

An attached garage is a part of your home; carbon monoxide fumes can seep-in from generators or idling cars, so don’t run either of them in the garage.

Carbon monoxide can also seep into homes from outdoor generators placed too close to open windows or vents; safety guidelines say they should be at least 15 feet away from any windows, doors or vents.

To learn more:

The state Department of Health has a fact sheet on preventing carbon monoxide poisoning (www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/co.htm) during a power outage; it’s available in multiple languages.

The agency provides a wide range of emergency preparedness information (www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/default.htm) from earthquakes to windstorms available in our Emergency Resource Guide (www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook.htm).