LANSING, Mich. — Michigan is spending this week getting ready for the cold. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed Sunday, Nov. 8, through Saturday, Nov. 14, as Winter Hazards Awareness Week, a statewide push alongside the Michigan State Police and emergency managers to get households prepared before the first serious storm.
The proclamation points to the risks that come with a Michigan winter: icy roads, extreme cold, outages and injuries from clearing snow. Heavy ice, wind and deep snow can also damage property, it notes.
For drivers, the advice is to winterize vehicles now. That means checking tire tread, washer fluid and the antifreeze mix in the cooling system, and having a mechanic look over belts, hoses, the battery and coolant.
At home, the state recommends a three-day emergency supply for each person. Pack shelf-stable food and drinking water, spare clothes and blankets, any prescriptions, food for pets and basic first aid supplies, plus a NOAA weather radio, a battery radio and a flashlight with fresh spares.
County emergency offices are spreading the same message. In Lenawee County, officials are urging residents to inspect furnaces and fuel supplies, insulate pipes against freezing and plan for possible propane shortages. They are also pointing people to the MiReady winter weather packet from the Michigan State Police at michigan.gov/miready.
