Be ready for Winter at home and on the road

Be ready for Winter at home and on the road

There are many simple tips to make sure you’re Winter ready this year and it’s always good to be prepared.

With a little bit of planning you can make sure you, your home, your vehicle, and community are prepared for everything that winter brings. Pembrokeshire County Council’s website can also help with information on gritting routes and situation updates.

During a cold snap staff monitor the weather conditions throughout the day and night along with several road side sensors measuring road temperature.

The decision to salt the main highway network is taken by experienced winter maintenance officers in the Council.

It takes more than two hours to treat the main routes, which includes around 592km of carriageway – 23 per cent of the total County network.

It can take time for the salt to become effective, with traffic movements aiding effectiveness. Showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to icing so it is always important to drive to the conditions.

Here are some simple tips to get Winter Ready.

Vehicle

· Check tyres and screen wash levels regularly.

· Thoroughly defrost windscreen before getting behind the wheel. · Drive appropriately to the conditions. Read winter driving advice

· Keep a winter car kit handy with ice scraper and de-icer, mobile phone charger, jump leads, food and drink and warm clothes and blankets. · Sign up for Cleddau Bridge closure alerts. · Follow Pembrokeshire County Council on social media (Facebook and X – formerly Twitter) for updates on road gritting and situation updates.

Home and garden

· Check your gutters – falling leaves can block gutters and cause problems with water backing up. · Learn where your stop tap is. Dwr Cymru has lots of handy winter tips.

· Lag outdoor taps to prevent freezing and burst pipes.

· Basic supplies - have a torch, batteries, candles, charged power bank, non-perishable food and bottled water handy, in case of power cuts.

· Garden –remove loose branches and secure garden furniture and play equipment such as trampolines that could cause issues in strong winds. · Check your flood risk and sign up for flood warnings from Natural Resources Wales. If at risk, check the Blue Pages Directory for resources. · Check for any Waste & Recycling updates.

Health · Keep up to date with Covid vaccinations if eligible. · Consider protecting yourself and others by getting a flu vaccination. · Read advice on avoiding winter viruses.

· Make sure you have supplies of medication, particularly over holiday periods. · Utilise NHS 111 Wales and Public Health Wales resources. · Consider using the Common Ailments Service run by pharmacies for many common conditions.

· Take extra care to avoid slips and falls during icy conditions.

Community

· Check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours. · Sign up for Met Office weather alerts / download the app for the latest forecast.

· Register for priority services with utility providers if required. · Register for Pembrokeshire school closure alerts · The Pembrokeshire Community Hub is a one-stop-shop for advice, guidance and information. Email enquiries@pembrokeshirecommunityhub.org or call 01437 723660. · The Council’s Cost of Living pages has lots of information and advice, including warm spaces and food support.