The Clinton County Sheriff, Gateway Area Red Cross, and Clinton County Emergency Management Agency are issuing the following joint statement effective January 6-9, 2015. ‘Read more’ for the details including information about a warming center.
Wednesday morning through Friday we are expecting a prolonged period of dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills. In response to this event the Clinton County Board of Supervisors has invited any member of the public in need of a place to warm up, to use the Administration Building’s Cafeteria during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday throud through Friday. The Administration Building is located at 1900 N. 3rd Street in Clinton. Anyone needing a place to warm up over the weekend or during the evenings can call the Gateway Area Red Cross at 563-583-6451 which is answered 24hrs. a day.
If you have neighbors who are elderly or have medical issues, please check on them periodically to ensure that they are able to keep warm.
The National Weather Service is expecting northwest to westerly winds of 15 to 25 MPH. The winds combined with the arctic air will result in falling temps to drop to 25 to 35 below (zero). Wednesday will continue to be -30 to almost -40 below. These temperatures are life threating and can cause frostbite in as little at 10 minutes at these values.
The American Red Cross offers the following advice:
1. Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing your body heat.
2. If you need to travel, be sure to put together a supply emergency kit.
3. Don’t forget your pets – bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.
4. Protect your pipes – run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent your pipes from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
5. Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid a more costly repair job if your pipes freeze and burst.
6. If you are using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs.
7. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
8. Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
9. If you are using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.
10. Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.
11. Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
12. Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
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