Winter has arrived and we may be hopeful for a white Christmas but winter also brings winter storms with ice, large accumulations of snow and whiteout conditions lasting anywhere from a few hours to several days. Don’t be left in the cold:

· Be prepared at home and in your car with an emergency kit

· Join over 12,000 prepared Ontarians and create your own Emergency Preparedness Action Plan

· Subscribe to a weather app on your smartphone for instant weather alerts

· Listen to the radio or visit Environment Canada or the Weather Network website for short and long term weather conditions

· Subscribe to the City’s social media to learn when a ‘significant weather event’ has been declared

· Dress accordingly when you are outside and check regularly for frostbite

· Remind children not to play on or near snow banks. Drivers are not able to see children playing near roadways at all times and stopping distances are usually longer.

· Stay safe on the road, visit the Ontario Winter Driving page for more tips on safe driving in winter storms

· Visit Ontario 511 or Municipal 511 for road conditions

· Do not park on the street until after the snow has been cleared. Remember vehicles are not permitted to park on City streets from December 1 to March 31 between 1:00AM and 7:00AM

For more tips on winter safety and more information on building an emergency kit or making your own Emergency Preparedness Action Plan, visit Owen Sound’s Emergency Planning website at https://www.owensound.ca/en/living/emergency-planning.aspx

source: media release, City of Owen Sound