Winter Weather
Although winter weather is not common in south Georgia, it is important to be prepared and plan ahead in case it occurs. For more information, visit the FEMA website or the Ready Georgia website.
Winter Weather Driving
Minimize travel during winter weather. If you can postpone your trip or if it is non-essential, stay in when the weather is really bad. If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors. Additionally, keep an extra Ready/Emergency kit in the trunk of your car. In addition to the basic essentials, consider adding a portable cell phone charger, ice scraper, extra blanket, sand for traction, and jumper cables. Ready Georgia has more information about winter weather driving.
Dressing for Cold Weather
Wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes.
- Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
- Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.
- Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness
- Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.
Winter Storm Preparation
How to Prepare for a Winter Storm
Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, ice, snow, high winds, or a combination of all of these conditions. The How to Prepare for a Winter Storm (PDF) guide from FEMA is designed to help you properly prepare for a winter storm and know how to protect yourself before, during, and after one. Planning and preparing can make a big difference in safety and resiliency in the wake of a winter storm. The ability to maintain or quickly recover following a winter storm requires a focus on preparedness, advanced planning, and knowing what to do in the event of a winter storm.