Some of the coldest weather in years is coming to Columbus. Here’s how to prepare
Dangerously cold weather is approaching Columbus this week and local officials and healthcare professionals are advising residents to have a plan to stay warm.
Cold air will begin moving in Friday morning and is “some of the coldest Georgia has seen in five to eight years,” according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.
“We’re fortunate — it appears that we’re not going to have a lot of moisture with that to cause problems on the roads,” said Columbus emergency management director Chance Corbett.
His office is in constant contact with the NWS, Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Georgia Power and other partners, he said. Emergency management is briefing city employees to make sure they’re prepared, even after hours and during the holiday, Corvette said.
“We obviously have the human factor,” Corbett said. “We want to make sure everyone’s safe. Whether it’s the elderly or the homeless, they need to have somewhere to go.”
One organization keeping in touch with emergency management is the American Red Cross of Southwest Georgia, which serves 24 counties including Muscogee County.
“We’ve reached out to our emergency managers to see what their plans are,” said Executive Director Adelaide Kirk.
The Red Cross is monitoring the weather like other government officials and agencies, Kirk said, and is making sure the organization is working in conjunction with them. If a need arises, such as someone losing access to medical equipment during a power outage, the Red Cross is ready to respond.
St. Francis-Emory Hospital anticipates the extreme cold weather may cause an increase in emergency room visits, said Johnny George, director of marketing and communications.
“We don’t anticipate a significant impact on our hospital,” he said. “But we have an action plan to address any visit, and we have (been) providing information about the local warming shelters in the area.”
How to prepare
The biggest concern of Red Cross is home fires, Kirk said, because people will be using alternative heating sources. These sources are often exposed space heaters, stoves or ovens.
“Inevitably, we end up having to respond to an increase in home fires,” she said. “So, while we’re hoping that isn’t the case — that is the word we’re trying to get out to folks. Don’t use your oven to heat your home.”
If people use a space heater, they should be sure that it’s on a level, hard surface and not near a couch, curtain, blanket or similar item, Kirk said.
People should have a backup plan if they are unable to heat their homes, Corbett said.
“If you lose power and all you have is electric heat or you don’t have a way to heat your house, then have another place to go, whether it’s family or friends,” he said. “And be prepared to go there.”
SafeHouse Ministries will open as a warming center for those experiencing homelessness, he said, and additional warming centers will be opened if needed.
Protect pets and pipes
Another concern residents should consider is that their pipes could freeze in the frigid weather, Corbett said. People should take precautions, such as letting cold water drip from the faucet to avoid major water leaks and water breaks.
Along with ensuring that people and the infrastructure are taken care of, he said, residents should not assume that their pets will be okay as the temperature drops. Pets should be brought inside for warmth.
“Because pets are very important to us as well,” Corbett said. “And sometimes we get wrapped up in what we’re doing, and we want to make sure everybody’s thinking about them as well.”
What to do if you get too cold
Some of the effects the cold can have on the body are hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration and immune system suppression, George said.
Warning signs that someone is too cold include:
Shivering
Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or face
Loss of coordination
Exhaustion or fatigue
If someone is experiencing those symptoms, they should be moved into a warm environment, have any wet clothing removed and should be wrapped in layers and blankets, he said. If an individual is experiencing severe symptoms related to extreme cold exposure such as frostbit, hypothermia or cold-induced asthma, they should go to the hospital for treatment.
“If you are in a situation where you are unable to get out of the cold and warm up, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible,” George said.
St. Francis-Emory recommends that people avoid going outside or driving unless necessary, he said, and advises residents to follow changing weather conditions on the news or the NWS.
“We don’t anticipate a lot of changes and know that we’re monitoring it 24 hours a day, seven days a week and even during the holidays,”Corbett said. “We’ll be prepared to respond, and we have some very professional first responders that are ready if they need anything.”
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 2:20 PM.
