As winter storm approaches, state officials outline necessary preparations

State officials are currently working to prepare for the weekend storm, with Governor Tate Reeves declaring a state of emergency until at least Jan. 27. 

Right now, the state's emergency management agency is working with county agencies to open warming shelters across Mississippi, while the Mississippi Department of Transportation is preparing equipment for the storm and applying treatment to roads. 

Ahead of the storm, officials are encouraging folks to stock up on anything needed for below freezing temperatures and power outages, especially nonperishable food, medication and power for any needed devices, like medical equipment. 

"If the worst case scenario happens and you're iced in and you can't get out of your house, do you have enough water, canned foods, to last 72 hours?" said Scott Simmons, director of external affairs for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. 

"Say your power goes out: do you have a propane heating source that you could cook outside?"

Simmons said it's important to get ready well in advance, even if the worst of the storm is only over the weekend. 

"Whatever we face in the weekend will stick around likely on the ground or on trees and power lines until Tuesday and that's where the problems lie," he said, highlighting the longterm effects of the power being out. 

"The grocery store isn't able to operate, keeping stuff refrigerated. So those are the things that we try to get ahead of and do what we can while there's time."

The Mississippi State Department of Health additionally recommends packing anything nonperishable in ice four hours after losing power. Freezers can keep safe food safe up to 48 hours if they're full and 24 if only half-full. 

As much as possible before the the weekend, the Mississippi Insurance Department also recommends checking your house to make sure it's winter-ready. 

"No matter how you heat your home, You should try to take precautions that include a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide detector," said communications director Beth Reiss. "The carbon monxide detector is so important because...many heat sources that we're using at this time of year do require gas."

She also warns that you shouldn't ever use an oven to heat your home and to use extreme caution with space heaters.

"We do find that space heaters can be dangerous; the main reason is because if you get anything too close to it, it's probably going to catch fire and then it spreads," Reiss said. "If you're not in the room with it or if you're going to sleep, we need to try to turn those off, and then also remember not to leave your children or your pets around it: anything that might disturb it."

MEMA additionally recommends not operating generators inside homes or garages. 

Now is also a good time to check the exterior of your house. Reiss warns that power outages are likely to occur from tree branches that may fall during the storm and ice and snow buildup. 

"Look and see what's closest that could be cut or removed to clear that hazard," she said. "Take a look at your gutters, take look at the ventilation to your roof and to your soffit vents."

"We want to make sure that we're keeping warm air in our home and out of the attic."

She also recommends keeping faucets running to prevent pipe bursts and checking your home's insulation, especially in any homes that may be unoccupied. 

Bryan McGee, master sergeant with Mississippi Highway Patrol public affairs, added that it's a good idea to make sure your car is ready for the extreme weather. 

"Make sure you've got your cell phone charged up, make sure that you've a full tank of fuel, make sure you've got a power cord for that cell phone," McGee said. "Make sure you have some snacks in the car, all those kind of things, extra blankets."

But the best course of action, he says, is to stay off the road unless absolutely necessary. If you have to go out, he says to drive slowly and be prepared for any emergencies. 

"If it's a non-emergency to where you need to call 911, we want you to remember to call *HP and then we will get units out to you as quickly as possible," he said. "But, saying that now, we want to make sure you have a car kit ready to go."

Traffic conditions are updated through the Mississippi Department of Transportation's website.