State agencies and emergency management officials have been preparing for the past five days, in advance of a winter storm. Highways and bridges have been pre-treated with salt brine and the Kansas Department of Transportation says it has more than 500 snow plows ready to deploy. A mixture of freezing rain, snow and ice will hit much of Kansas this weekend and Governor Sam Brownback says residents should get ready.
Residents should prepare to ride out the storm in their homes. Angee Morgan, the state's deputy director of emergency management, urges people to stock up on necessities like food, medicine and first aid supplies. She says roads may become too dangerous for travel by anyone, including emergency responders.
Given the strong possibility of power outages, officials say residents should fully-charge their cell phones now, before the storm hits. Residents should also prepare home disaster kits with flashlights, fresh batteries, water, medications and other essential items.
Check out some of this winter preparedness advice from the Centers for Disease Control.
More tips on winter storm preparedness from the American Red Cross.
