Columbus, Wisconsin

... Wisconsin winter awareness week is November 9-13...

Winter awareness week for Wisconsin is jointly sponsored by the
Wisconsin emergency management team and the National Weather Service
offices that service Wisconsin.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the planned events and
become more aware of the dangers of winter weather in Wisconsin.

Winter hazards include the following events...
     -light snows that create slippery Road surfaces
     -heavy snows with or without strong winds
     -blizzards
     -ice storms
     -sleet storms
     -ground blizzards
     -extreme cold and low wind chills
     -widespread high winds
     -glazings of freezing drizzle or freezing rain
     -dense fog

Other indirectly-related winter hazards include...
     -Carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty space heaters or
      stoves used in homes... garages... hunting/fishing shelters.

     -Carbon monoxide poisoning from clogged vehicle exhaust. If
      your vehicle becomes stuck in deep snow... make sure the
      exhaust pipe is free from snow.

     -Swallowing of vehicle antifreeze solutions which can lead to
      illness and fatalities in both humans and pets.

Don/T Forget about those vehicle accidents...
according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation... an average
of about 17000 vehicle accidents occur in the state each winter
when roads are covered with snow... ice... or slush. This results in
an average of about 78 deaths and 7115 injuries each winter season.
Many of these accidents can be avoided.

Planned winter awareness week activities include...
     - winter weather safety tips and other bits of information
       which will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio all hazards
       that have coverage in Wisconsin.

     - Periodic public information statements containing winter
       storm terminology and safety tips sent on the all-hazard NOAA
       weather wire.

     - Broadcast and print media messages and reports

We encourage the assistance of members of the broadcast and print
media to promote winter weather safety. Please contact your local
National Weather Service office or emergency manager if you need
additional information or would like to conduct an interview.

Winter weather information can also be found on the following web
sites...

Http://www.Weather.Gov/Milwaukee /all lower case/
http://www.Weather.Gov/greenbay
http://www.Weather.Gov/LaCrosse
http://www.Weather.Gov/Minneapolis
http://www.Weather.Gov/Duluth