MONROE — The winter of 2018-19 was one for the record books in Wisconsin, with the state experiencing heavy snowfall and dangerously cold temperatures brought on by the polar vortex. To help prepare everyone for what to expect in the months ahead, Gov. Tony Evers has declared Nov. 4-8 Winter Awareness Week in Wisconsin.

This is a good time to make sure emergency kits are fully supplied and furnaces are serviced. Vehicles should be checked and prepared for winter road conditions.

Winter emergency kits should include items such as non-perishable food, water, a flashlight and batteries and blankets. Vehicles should be equipped with a snow shovel, extra gloves and hats, as well as kitty litter or sand to help give wheels traction on icy roads if they get stuck.

Winter driving can be extremely hazardous. Between 2014 and 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said an average of 46 people were killed and almost 4,200 injured each year in crashes on icy or snow-covered roads in the state. On average, there are about 18,000 vehicle crashes in the state each year caused by poor winter driving conditions. Many crashes are caused by driving too fast for current conditions. When that first blast of winter arrives, motorists often needs to “relearn” how to drive on slippery surfaces. Be gentle with the accelerator and brake and don’t use cruise control. Four-wheel drive vehicles cannot stop any sooner than others and they can also lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive. 

If a vehicle slides off the road, gets stuck, or becomes disabled, all occupants should stay inside the vehicle if possible, with a seatbelt fastened, until a tow truck or other help arrives. Being inside the vehicle and buckled up gives protection against out-of-control vehicles. 

Tanna McKeon, Green County Emergency Management Director, reminds motorists to keep out of the way of emergency responders, highway workers or other utility vehicles stopped on the side of the road with warning lights flashing by obeying the Move Over Law. This law requires drivers to shift lanes or slow down to provide a safety zone for them. 

Drivers should always check current road conditions before heading out in bad weather. Staying home during a severe winter storm is the best practice. If that’s not an option, an emergency kit should be inside the vehicle. Drivers should drive slowly in treacherous conditions, and let people know where they’re going and when they expect to arrive. 

Check travel conditions for most major roadways in the state by using 511 Wisconsin. This information, along with live traffic cameras and traffic alerts, can be accessed through the free 511 Wisconsin mobile app, @511WI on Twitter, or 511wi.gov.

For more emergency preparedness plans and tips, visit Green County Emergency Management’s website at greencountyem.com and its Facebook page. Another good resource is Ready Wisconsin at readywisconsin.wi.gov.