The Town of Fort Mill is monitoring the potential for inclement weather this coming weekend, including the possibility for extremely low temperatures and rain, sleet or snow. Though the weather forecast continues to evolve, we would like to share some tips for staying safe during these conditions:
-Keep phones and laptops charged in case of an outage.
-Have plenty of food, water, medicine, batteries and flashlights on hand.
-Stay safe from carbon monoxide by making sure you always run your car in a well-ventilated space, such as an open garage, and only operate a generator outside.
-Do not use grills or outdoor appliances for space heating or cooking inside as they may emit carbon monoxide.
-Check on friends, family and neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
-Don’t forget about pets and livestock. Make sure they have access to water that will not freeze and that they have a warm place to take shelter.
-Per Duke Energy, always stay away from fallen or sagging power lines.
Protect yourself from the cold by:
-Wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing.
-Mittens are warmer than gloves, and always wear a hat and scarf if possible.
-Keep your car fueled to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
You can protect the pipes in your home by doing the following:
-Allow indoor plumbing fixtures to drip to allow water to trickle through pipes and stop freezing.
-Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate and keep pipes from freezing.
-Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots
- Shut off and drain automatic lawn sprinkler systems
-Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your home
-Locate your water shut-off valve in the event of a burst pipe
-If your pipes do freeze, you can open faucets slightly, turn off your home water supply, turn up the heat in your house, wrap frozen pipes with towels soaked in hot water; or contact a plumber for help.
More information
For more information on staying safe in winter weather, and for more details about contacting local utility companies, visit https://www.fortmillsc.gov/567/Winter-Weather
You can also sign up for alerts and notifications from the Town by visiting the Mass Notification Dashboard at https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/?regionid=2328. Complete the sign-up form, confirm your email and customize your alert preferences to begin receiving notifications.