an extreme winter storm is predicted to arrive in Galesburg around mid-day on Tuesday, Feb. 1. The forecast is for snow in excess of 12 inches by midnight and winds at 30 mph with wind gusts reaching 40 mph. The high winds will cause blowing and drifting of snow which will make some roads impassable. Due to the amount of snow and high winds, it is anticipated travel will not be possible on some streets and highways beginning Tuesday afternoon and continuing until Wednesday evening. if you must travel, plan your route accordingly. Due to the high winds, it will not be possible to put up road closed signs or advance warning signs. Anticipated road closures in Galesburg include: • Log City Trail – S. Lake Storey Road to Fremont • County Line Road – Route 164 south to Monmouth Blvd. • Linwood Road/Carl Sandburg Drive – Losey to YMCA • S. Farnham Street – Fifth Street south to City Limits • N. Farnham Street – Bluebird Drive north to City Limits • Pickard Road – Route 164 south to dead end (Includes Sandburg Lake Estates) • S. Henderson Street – Enterprise Avenue to CH 10 • Logistics Park Roadways (Knox Road 1440 N & Knox Road 650E) for information on state routes and highways, refer to the Illinois Department of Transportation website at wrc.gettingaroundillinois.com/pages/wrc.htm or call 1-800-452-4368. Residents should be prepared ahead of the storm’s arrival with medical and food supplies to last for several days. It is strongly recommended once the winter storm arrives that residents stay home and off the roads as much as possible. a snow emergency will be declared when snow accumulation has reached two inches. Residents should keep all vehicles off city streets during the snow event. Listen to local radio stations for an announcement when the parking restriction has been lifted. with the storm lasting an extended period of time, snow plows will need to make several passes on the streets over the course of the storm. Snow pick up in the downtown area will not occur until Friday night. Until the snow can be removed from the downtown area, large piles of snow will make parking and driving downtown difficult. Emergency responders will be battling the extreme elements when dispatched on a 9-1-1 call. Response times will understandably be delayed. in order to make sure responders are available for emergencies and have the necessary equipment, use the 9-1-1 service when you deem the circumstance is a life or death situation. Of course, when in doubt, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for your emergency needs. use extra caution during this snow storm. some basic tips to remember: • Listen to a battery-powered radio or television for updated emergency information. if the power goes out, you will still have access to important information. • Be sure your cell phone is fully charged and with you at all times. • Eat regularly. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. • Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine, a stimulant, accelerates the symptoms of hypothermia. Alcohol is a depressant and hastens the effects of cold on the body. Alcohol also slows circulation and can make you less aware of the effects of cold. both caffeine and alcohol can cause dehydration. if you must go outside, protect yourself from winter storm hazards. • Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat. • Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extremely cold air. • Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite. a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in fingers, toes, nose, or earlobes are symptoms of frostbite. Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 95°F. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, slow speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling, drowsiness, and exhaustion. Hypothermia is not always fatal, but for those who survive there are likely to be lasting kidney, liver, and pancreas problems. • if frostbite or hypothermia is suspected, begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. Warm the person’s trunk first. using your own body heat will help. Arms and legs should be warmed last because stimulation of the limbs can drive cold blood toward the heart and lead to heart failure. put the person in dry clothing and wrap their entire body in a blanket. never give a frostbite or hypothermia victim alcohol or something with caffeine in it, like coffee or tea. Caffeine, a stimulant, can cause the heart to beat faster and hasten the effect the cold has on the body. Alcohol, a depressant, can slow the heart and also hasten the ill effects of the cold. • Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses much of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly away from the body. • Stretch before you go out. if you go out to shovel snow, do a few stretching exercises to warm up your body. this will reduce your chances of muscle injury. • Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia. • Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. Slips and falls occur frequently in winter weather, resulting in painful and sometimes disabling injury. And as a general rule, watch out for your neighbor. Give assistance to others when possible. Pick up a few extra supplies and provide them to someone who has no transportation or has difficulty with mobility. if you are in a situation where you have lost power, you can go to a local warming center. in Galesburg, the Community Center located at 150 E. Simmons Street provides a warm comfortable place to stay. Call the center if you have questions, 345-3686. in the rural areas, try the local fire station or churches.