Severe winter weather can endanger people, animals and property. With some planning you can help protect yourself, your family and keep your property losses to a minimum. When storms are threatening, monitor WHIO-TV and 7 Weather Now.

Winter storms are considered deceptive killers because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. About 70 percent of injuries due to ice and snow are the result of vehicle accidents. If you must travel when winter storms threaten, keep your car well maintained, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice and condensation build-up in the fuel lines and do not travel alone. Your winter storm survival kit for vehicles should include:

Blankets/sleeping bags
Radio, flashlight, extra batteries
First-aid kit
High-calorie, non-perishable food and bottled water
Extra clothing, including mittens and hat
Sack of sand or cat litter for de-icing roadway
Windshield scraper and brush
Tool kit, tow rope, shovel, flares and maps
Jumper cables
Cell phone with charger, or two-way radio
Wooden matches in a waterproof container

Chief concerns associated with winter weather are loss of heat, power and telephone service, as well as a shortage of supplies. It is important to keep the following supplies on hand to survive three to five days:

Battery powered NOAA Weather radio
Extra medicine, medical supplies and items needed by babies or the elderly
Heating fuel if you are in an area where fuel carriers may not be able to get through
Properly ventilated emergency heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove or space heater
Fire extinguisher, smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector
Extra food and water for several days. Keep canned food and a can opener, and at least one gallon of water per person per day