The Basics
During Extreme Winter Weather
- Stay aware of conditions.
- Be prepared to spend several days at home if conditions are bad.
- Have an emergency plan, know how to stay informed, check on your neighbors, and gather emergency supplies. Make sure you have lots of clean water. Consider children, pets, and anyone with additional needs.
- Be ready for the common problems below.
Snow and Ice
- Don’t travel unless you absolutely must.
- Slow down! Speed is the number one reason for accidents. While three to five seconds is the standard following distance, add more time when there’s poor visibility, snow, or ice.
- Keep a Vehicle Breakdown Guide in your vehicle.
- Learn how to put on snow chains.
- Have an emergency kit in your vehicle. If your car breaks down, stay with it until help comes.
Use online maps including Oregon Trip Check and Washington Trip Check to check your route and avoid problems.
- In most areas, property owners or tenants are responsible for clearing snow and ice from in front of their homes and businesses. This helps everyone stay safer, especially people with limited physical mobility.
- Learn how to prevent falls when walking on snow and ice.
- Check in with neighbors who might need a hand.
- Monitor local news and sign up for FlashAlerts to receive info about closures.
- Gather supplies now so you’ll be ready if you lose access to utilities.
- Learn how to shut off your water and winterize your home, including how to deal with frozen or burst pipes.
- If your power goes out:
- Know how to recognize and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- PGE customers: Report an outage or check the outage map.
- Pacific Power customers: Report an outage or check the outage map.
Using alternative heat sources indoors can lead to poisoning and death. If your power goes out, know how to recognize and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. View the Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power websites for info about progress restoring power to customers and further safety advice.
Also, make sure your home's exhaust vent is clear of snow and ice. If it gets clogged, it may cause carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.
- Keep trees and large shrubs trimmed away from your home. They may break during wind storms or under heavy snow or ice and could damage your home.
- Know what to do if you smell natural gas and how to shut off your gas.
- Learn how to stay safe around downed lines. If you see downed power lines, leave the area immediately and call 9-1-1.
- Be cautious when driving or hiking in areas with loose dirt. Rapidly melting snow and ice can create flooding and land movement.
Extreme Cold
Spending too much time in the cold can create a medical emergency. If your body’s temperature drops too low, you may be unable to think clearly or move well. You might not notice when it’s happening. Learn about cold weather safety so you know the signs of low body temperature and how to stay safe from frostbite and hypothermia.
If you have pets:
- Don’t forget that extreme cold can harm pets as well. Animals left outside in extreme cold are at risk of hypothermia and even death. Their owners may also be at risk of breaking the law.
If you see someone living outside in the cold:
- And you have questions about how to help, call 211.
- And you think their life is in danger, call 911.
If you need shelter:
- During extreme cold weather events, winter warming shelters are sometimes opened to help protect people who don’t have access to shelter. During extreme weather, contact 211info or visit your county's website to find resources near you:
Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington
If you need financial assistance:
- If you need help paying your energy bills or weatherizing your home, contact 211info to see if assistance is available in your area.
How to contact 211:
- Call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 (24/7)
- TTY dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155
- Text your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
- Email help@211info.org
- Download the app
- Search online at 211info.org
Interpreters for 100+ languages available by phone; text and email is in English and Spanish only.
Mental Health
The cold, dark days of winter can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s also known as the “winter blues,” and it’s very common. It can be especially hard when you’re dealing with other challenges, such as the pandemic. If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Reach out to a friend or a trained mental health provider.
Symptoms
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Experiencing low energy
- Trouble concentrating
- Changes in mood, sleeping habits, appetite, and weight
Ways to Fight the Blues
- Spend time outdoors
- Avoid drugs and alcohol
- Practice meditation
- Try light therapy
- Get regular exercise
- Call or video chat with a friend
- Contact a trained mental health professional