Focus : Cold Protection For People

It's that time of year again; time to prepare for cold protection... for people. FAWN cold protection primarily focuses on your crops, but extreme cold can pose a significant threat to human health as well. Even in Florida, the Sunshine State, lack of preparation for cold weather can have dire consequences. According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), 26 people lost their lives in Florida during the winter of 1989-1990. It is important to be aware of the dangers of extreme cold.

Valuable information regarding cold weather preparedness is available from a variety of sources, one of which is the UF Cooperative Extension Service Disaster Handbook, which contains a section on Extreme Cold and Winter Storms, which is designed to prepare the community for extreme cold weather. A summary of topics in this section is listed below.

What Actions Should You Take To Be Prepared?

"Although Florida is the Sunshine State and is a wintertime haven for tourists, our state is susceptible to freezes and low wind chills", said Ben Nelson, State Meteorologist with the FDEM. He adds, "whenever the National Weather Service issues a Freeze or Wind Chill advisory, Floridians need to practice the "5 P's" of cold weather safety, which include: Protecting People, Protecting Plants, Protecting Pets, Protect Exposed Pipes, and Practicing Fire Safety." The FDEM recommends the following in preparation for cold weather:

  • Stay indoors and use safe heating sources.
  • Be aware of the fire danger from space heaters and candles; keep such devices away from all flammable materials such as curtains and furniture.
  • Do not use charcoal or other fuel-burning devices, such as grills that produce carbon monoxide indoors. Install at least one smoke and carbon monoxide detector per floor in your home.
  • When outdoors, stay dry and in wind protected areas.
  • Wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, warm clothing.
  • Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids and eat high-caloric foods.

While monitoring the local news, or your favorite website, develop an understanding of the following frequently-used terminology:

  • Watch - Used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.
  • Warning - Used when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.
  • Advisory - Highlights special weather conditions that are less serious than a warning. They are for events that may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
  • Freeze - When the surface air temperature is below freezing (32°F, 0°C) over a widespread area for a prolonged period of time.
  • Frost - A cover of ice crystals directly on a surface at or below freezing.
  • Freeze Warning - Issued by the National Weather Service to make the public aware that freeze conditions are anticipated over a large area.
  • Hard Freeze Warning - Issued by the National Weather Service to make the public aware of anticipated freeze conditions in which the temperature is expected to be below 28°F over a large area for more than 4 hours.
  • Wind Chill - The temperature it "feels like" outside; based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold.

Below are links to additional resources that may be useful during cold weather.

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