Macon-Bibb EMA offers winter weather tips

Middle Georgians are navigating icy conditions and below-freezing temperatures in the aftermath of a winter storm that brought snow to the region.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) –  Middle Georgians are navigating icy conditions and below-freezing temperatures in the aftermath of a winter storm that brought snow to the region.

“The cold is going to be very impactful,” Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Spencer Hawkins said Tuesday. “On top of that, we’re also going to see some snow, some wintry mixed precipitation, fall. With all of that, once again, if you don’t need to be outside, please don’t go outside.”

Hawkins says knowing how to operate home appliances is key to prepare this winter season. 

“Understand how to heat your home safely and effectively,” he said. “Know how to use space heaters if you have those, do not let those run while you sleep. Don’t use your oven an a heating element, if you have a fireplace know how to use that correctly and safely.”

The EMA says if you have to be outside, layer up and drive with caution of black ice.

“Please layer up,” Hawkins said. “Make sure you’re protecting your extremities. your hands your feet your nose things like that. Just be safe about it, also know that you can get dehydrated in the cold weather, so if you have to be outside, hydrate, layer up, stay warm.”

Cold weather can also bring different power outages.

“For power outages, the big thing if it happens over night make sure you have flashlights available, do not use candles or anything like that for light sources,” he said. “Get flash lights, get glow sticks to see what’s going on. And for loss of water, make sure you have your disaster kit with water up to three days, so make sure you have some bottle water for everyone in your home.”