Staying safe in bad weather

During the fall and winter months, severe weather may pose health and safety risks to people caught in its path. The following fact sheets from the Department of Health can help you prepare for the possible hazards of bad weather - before, during and after.
 

On This Page

Power Outages

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Snow & Cold

Wind

Floods

Landslide

Power Outages

• Power outages (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)

• Be sure your water is safe to drink after a power outage
  Power outages can lead to drinking water system contamination. Boil your drinking water until your water provider tells you the water is okay.

• Purifying drinking water in emergencies (also available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, LARGE TYPE

• Treatment of drinking water for emergency use (illustrated brochure)

• Keeping food safe without power 

• Food safety during a power outage for food establishments
  Guide for food establishments about food safety during a power outage (pdf)

• Using a generator safely (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)
   

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that cannot be seen or smelled and can kill a person in minutes. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by generators, grills and other appliances that are not used properly or that are malfunctioning.

Information from the the Washington State Department of Health

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Fact Sheet:

  • English (illustrated version)

  • Spanish (illustrated version)

  • Chinese (illustrated version)

  • Korean (illustrated version)

  • Russian (illustrated version)

  • Vietnamese (illustrated version)

  • LARGE TYPE

• Frequently Asked Questions about Carbon Monoxide
  More details on carbon monoxide poisoning from the Department of Health's Indoor Air Quality program.

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  Fact sheet available in 11 languages.

• Carbon Monoxide Prevention Guidelines
  Fact sheet available in 17 languages.

Preparing for Emergencies Getting ready now for bad weather or other disasters is the best thing you can do to make it through these times safe and healthy. Checklist of Emergency Supplies This checklist is a great way to get started on a disaster survival kit at your home. (This checklist is also available in Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE) Emergency Resource Guide. This guide contains many of the facts sheets on this page as well as others.

Winter Storms. Snow, ice and low temperatures. (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)

Hypothermia (also available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Windstorms (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)

Floods

• Floods (also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)

• Cleaning up your home after a flood:

  • After a flood

  • After a sewage spill

  • After your basement floods (also available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese)

• Safe drinking water

  • Purifying household water
    available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, LARGE TYPE

  • Treatment of drinking water for emergency use (illustrated brochure)

  • Find alternative water supplies

  • Drinking water emergencies for water systems

• Mold: Frequently asked questions

  • Call us for answers to your questions about mold at:  360-236-3090

• Special circumstances

  • Animal disposal following a flood

  • Effect of water on X-ray equipment for X-ray operators

Landslides and Mud Flows (also available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and LARGE TYPE)

External resources

• Washington State Emergency Management Division - tips on preparing for and surviving floods and winter storms
• Washington State Department of Transportation - includes information on the current condition of weather, traffic, mountain passes and alternate routes.