MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Any amount of ice accumulation can cause major impact to daily life. Slick roads, power outages, and downed trees are all possible. Here are some things you should know and a few ways to be prepared.
How ice impacts the Mid-South
- Road conditions can be severely impacted during an ice storm. Just a little bit of ice can cause crippling delays. Winter driving can be dangerous. According to the Federal Highway Administration, freezing rain can affect visibility, traffic speed and traction on the road.
- Power outages are a major concern as well. Ice can accumulate on power lines and freeze wires. Ice can also accumulate on tree limbs, causing them to fall and bring down power lines. If the roads are inaccessible, power outages could last for days. During the ice storm of 1994, some people were without power for weeks.
Pictures from the February 1994 ice storm in the Mid-South
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- Like severe weather, trees and branches could snap and fall onto homes and vehicles.
- Freezing pipes can also be an issue. If pipes freeze, then it causes major problems in your home. Pipes can rupture and cause major flooding issues.
What you can do to prepare
- Creating a winter safety kit for your car can provided added safety. Here are a few items that you can put in your kit: Batteries, blankets, cat litter for traction, a first aid kit, flashlight, phone charger, rope, snacks and most importantly water.
- If you live in a home and your lights go off, having a generator could help tremendously. But, it is very important that you use the generator in a safe manner.