Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing in the overnight hours this week and people are reminded to take steps to prepare their homes for winter. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen says now is a good time to have your furnace looked at, “Have a professional check your furnace to make sure that everything is in working order. Change filters if that needs to be done, especially since we are in the midst of a global pandemic, that is a good thing to be doing extra-regularly this year to help make sure that the air that’s rolling through your home, because we’re going to be spending more time inside of our homes, is as clean as it can be.”

She also shares people should have the necessities on hand like drinking water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and solar chargers for the winter months in the event that you can’t leave your house or you lose power.

Reisen provides advice on generators, “If you got a generator this summer after the derecho hit, make sure that you know how to use it in the wintertime. Again, you don’t want it to be too close to your house because the fumes can then get into your house. And have it serviced if it needs it. Keep them away from the windows and definitely do not bring them inside of your homes.” She says if you haven’t yet, change out the batteries in your smoke detectors and check your carbon monoxide alarms for the season.

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