Staying warm this week

SENECA COUNTY — Cold weather advisories for Northern Ohio remain in effect until Wednesday morning according to the National Weather Service. A CBS news story published over the weekend advised this cold surge was part of a polar vortex that would affect a vas majority of North America. "More than 212 million people, amounting to nearly two-thirds of the U.S population, were under winter weather watches and alerts," the story maintains, with many areas seeing the coldest temperatures of the year or for the first time in several years, leaving many cities across the country scrambling to open warming centers. Some sources attribute the recent extreme cold snap to climate change but other sources say there is still more research to be done. Locally, Seneca County Emergency Management Agency director John Spahr says that while there are no official county-sponsored warming centers, those who may need a warm place during the day are advised to go to community centers like the Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, or local restaurants or businesses. Outside of business hours or overnight, Spahr suggests reaching out to local dispatch centers using non-emergency numbers for help finding warm places to sleep. Each caller will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Those in Fostoria should call 419-435-8573; Tiffin: 419-447-2323 and in Seneca County: 419-447-3456. For those in apartments or houses, a recent press release from Columbia Gas offers several ways to prepare for the oncoming cold front. Clear snow from intake and exhaust vents and from natural gas meters for easy access in the event of an emergency. Use space heaters when needed but remember to keep anything flammable at least three feet from a heater. Do not allow a heater to tip over. Ensure heating appliances are operating properly. Never use a stove or oven as a heat source. Don't burn charcoal or run a generator indoors. Clean the chimney at least once a year before using an indoor fireplace. According to a winter weather briefing issued by the National Weather Service early Monday morning for northern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, sub-zero wind chills are expected through Thursday morning with temperatures ranging from -13 degrees to 15 degrees through the next few days. The NWS recommends staying indoors when possible and dress warmly in several layers to avoid hypothermia and frostbite. Occasionally start and run vehicles to avoid dead batteries and have warm weather gear ready in a survival pack should the power go out.