Blizzard Watch - What you should know & how to prepare.

Amarillo NWS has issued a BLIZZARD WATCH for our area in effect from Thursday evening until Saturday morning.

A BLIZZARD WATCH is issued when winds greater than 35 miles per hour, mixed with falling or blowing snow, and visibilities of 1/4 miles or less is forecasted for a period of 3 hours or more and is usually issued 36 to 12 hours before an expected blizzard event.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
OEM, Red Cross, and FEMA urge you to have enough supplies to sustain you and your family for 72-hours. You should always take weather reports seriously and make sure you and your family are prepared for the worst. Winter storms can often be more severe than predicted, so it is a good idea to check your home and emergency supplies as soon as you hear of a potential blizzard.

AT HOME OR WORK MAKE SURE YOU HAVE:

• Flashlights, battery-operated lantern, battery-operated touch lights...
• Batteries
• Battery powered NOAA All-Hazard Radio, radio, or TV to get up to date information
• Extra food, water, medicine, and baby items
• First aid supplies
• Heating fuel (propane, kerosene, fuel oil, etc...) & camp stoves
• Emergency heating source

IN CARS AND TRUCKS:

• Fully check and winterize your vehicle
• Keep your gas tank near full
• Try not to travel alone
• Let a friend or relative know your timetable for travel
• Carry a WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT which contains:
• - blankets/sleeping bags
  - flashlight with extra batteries
  - high calorie, non-perishable food
  - a smaller can and water-proof matches to melt snow for drinking water
  - sand or cat litter
  - shovel
  - windshield scraper
  - tool kit
  - tow rope
  - jumper cables
  - water container
  - compass
  - road maps

Please stay tuned to local media, NWS, and OEM Twitter for further information on this coming winter storm.