FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Nov. 5, 2007

CONTACT: Brooke Bohnenkamp, Public Information Officer, 605.773.3178

 

 

Pierre, SD-We’re just more than two weeks away from the start of the holiday travel season. Is your car ready to make the trip to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving dinner?

 

The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service are encouraging all South Dakotans to take a five-week approach to putting together a winter car survival kit. It’s part of the state’s Winter Weather Preparedness campaign.

 

For the last two weeks, the Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service have asked South Dakotans to put extra blankets, water, and non-perishable foods in their vehicles. This week the Office of Emergency Management encourages people to add a flashlight and a distress flag to the kit.

 

“It’s important for people to realize that it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to put a kit together to keep your family safe. An old red t-shirt can function as a distress flag. You just need something that can get a rescue team’s attention. You don’t have to buy bottled water. You just need a jug of water in the car.” said Kristi Turman, Director of the South Dakota Officer of Emergency Management.

 

Below is the five-week approach for putting getting a winter car kit put together by Thanksgiving.

Week 1 (Oct. 22 - Oct. 27): Start your winter car survival kit with extra blankets.

 

Week 2 (Oct. 29 – Nov. 3): Add water and candy bars, granola bars, dried fruit or nuts to the winter car kit.

 

Week 3 (Nov. 5 – Nov. 10): Add a flashlight with fully charged batteries, and a brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag. 

 

Week 4 (Nov. 12 – Nov. 17): Add a shovel to your kit.

 

Week 5 (Nov. 19 – Nov. 24): Put everything together in kit. Put the kit in your car. Enjoy a safe holiday travel season.

 

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