Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says that winter weather will be here before we know it.

Kempf adds that while it’s important to be prepared for that winter weather when you are out and about, it’s also important to make sure that you’re prepared for it at home as well. He explains that conservation of heat in the home is the problem that individuals think of first and foremost, and that an easy way to do that is to open the blinds or curtains on windows facing south and west that can help bring in sunlight and natural heat.

Kempf tells Raccoon Valley Radio that making sure indoor heat sources are safe should also be a top priority, especially when actual fire is involved.

“And of course we have fireplaces that we used. So you want to make sure that your chimney is cleaned and checked to make sure that it’s in a safe operating order.You want to make sure that you’re keeping flammables away from the fireplace and you’re closing your screen or your glass enclosure to make sure that if you’re actually burning wood, you don’t have the possibility of sparks coming out. It’s very important.”

Kempf mentions that another heat source people use is space heaters, and explains that any space heaters used should meet the latest safety standards for the devices. He says that many old space heaters don’t have a switch or button on the bottom that turns the device off, should it be knocked over. Kempf adds that space heaters should be used in areas where they have at least three feet of clearance, and do not sit on carpet.