Winter weather resources from MU Extension

Do you have icicles hanging from the eaves of your roof? Aside from the obvious danger when they fall, icicles can be a symptom of ice dams, which can inflict serious damage outside and inside your home. Visit https://extension.missouri.edu/news/ice-dams-on-the-roof-can-damage-your-home to learn more.

Power outages can be a consequence of winter weather. While generators can keep the lights on and help you stay warm, be aware of the dangers generators can present. Visit https://extension.missouri.edu/news/winter-power-outages-can-lead-to-generator-concerns for more information.

Shoveling snow from the driveway is hard – and sometimes dangerous – work. Take precautions, or, depending on your age and overall health, consider having someone else do the job. Visit https://extension.missouri.edu/news/tips-for-safe-snow-shoveling for more information.

Winter weather can inflict severe damage to your trees, but patience can pay off in saving them. Learn about first aid for storm-damaged trees. Visit https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6867 for information on tree first aid.

Speaking of trees, if you’re going to use ice melters on your driveway or sidewalk, be careful to not harm nearby trees. Find out more about how ice melter runoff can harm trees at https://extension.missouri.edu/news/ice-melters-may-harm-nearby-trees.

As many as 25,000 older adults die each year from hypothermia, and room temperatures as mild as 60 F can trigger hypothermia. Visit https://extension.missouri.edu/news/elderly-at-special-risk-during-frigid-weather to learn how to help older friends, neighbors and family members stay safe.

In extreme cases, winter weather might leave you without power for extended periods, make travel all but impossible, or even force you to seek shelter elsewhere. In such cases, having a disaster supplies kit can be a lifesaver. Find out what you keep in your disaster supply kit at https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/emw1012.