Christmas in South Georgia will not be white, but it will be the coldest one we’ve experienced in years.
Christmas Eve for Wacyross shows a predicted high of 39 degrees and a low of 22. By comparison that day, Atlanta has a high of 28 degrees and a low of 17 degrees.
“From Monday until Friday of this week the lows will be in the lower 20s, and the highs will only reach the middle to high 40s,” said Ware County Emergency Management Director Joanthan Daniell. “If you have to be outside, make sure you have multiple layers of clothing on, but if you don’t need to be outside then please stay inside.”
Daniell said the best way to be prepared is making sure your water pipes are protected, and plants and animals are safe.
“You need to bring your plants inside, or at least bring them somewhere that will put them out of the direct weather,” Daniell said. “Most people put a light on their pets if they can’t bring them inside, just make sure that the light is not touching anything that will cause a fire.
“Also make sure if you put a heater on them that they can’t knock it over.”
Daniell says to watch out for ice on the highways Friday morning.
“We’re supposed to get rain Thursday, so it’s important to understand with lower 20s expected Friday morning there’s high potential for ice on the highways Friday morning,” he stated. “On the state highways, the Department of Transportation will sand or put pebbles down to keep from icing, but it’s important to still be careful and drive with care.”
Space heaters also are a fear of many. Daniell says the key to safety is to make sure there is enough ventilation.
“There has to be ventilation if it’s a gas heater, so just make sure that there is an open door or window or something that will allow air to come through,” he said. “We don’t really have to worry about electric blankets anymore, as they come with an automatic shutoff like a heating pad does.”
Another safety concern that comes with cold weather is fireplaces and chimneys, be fire smart.
“We’ave already seen a few fires this year with chimneys. Over the years chimneys build up with creosote from wood, and if it is not properly cleaned, you will have flames coming out of the top of your chimney,” Daniell said.
Creosote is a black or brown residue that can be crusty and flaky — tar-like, drippy and sticky — or shiny and hardened. All forms are highly combustible.
If it builds up in sufficient quantities, and the internal flue temperature is high enough, the result could be a chimney fire, according to the FEMA website. The website also states that not restricting air supply, closing glass doors, not burning unseasoned wood, and not overlaoding the firebox with wood in an attempt to get a longer burn time will help to decrease the buildup of creosote.
FEMA says that the key to fireplace safety is to keep a glass or metal screen in front of fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out, do not burn paper in your fireplace, put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home, put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 3 feet from your home.
Clean chimneys don’t catch fire. Make sure a professional chimney sweep inspects your solid fuel venting system annually, and sweeps and repairs it whenever needed.
Your sweep may have specific maintenance recommendations depending on how you use your fireplace or stove.
