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What You Can Do to Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather can be challenging to us personally, and our actions can also be hard on our air and water resources. Learn what you can do to help reduce seasonal pollutants.

Using Wood Heat

If you burn wood for heat, burn cleanly to reduce smoke and regional haze. Remember to comply with burning bans.

• Learn more about wood stoves, fireplaces, and pellet stoves
• Find out about burn bans

Diesel Generators

If you use a diesel generator as a back-up energy source, be aware of the danger of diesel emissions.

• Learn more about diesel emissions

Stormwater

Runoff from rain and melting snow goes down storm drains. Unlike the water that goes down your home’s drain to the sewer system, water that flows into storm drains is not typically treated or filtered for pollutants. It flows directly into creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, and Puget Sound.

• Learn more about stormwater
• How you can help prevent stormwater pollution

Prepare to Prevent Pollution

At home, at work and or if you are boating, there are things you can do to prepare for a storm. The first step is to reduce your use and the amount on hand of hazardous products and hazardous wastes. Then safely store and secure any of these substances or materials you do have on hand.

• Be prepared, read our Flood Hazards brochure
• In your home or at your business, manage hazardous products or wastes so that they don’t cause pollution in a flood
• Tips to prepare for a flood:
  • For households
  • For businesses
• What you need to know if your business stores hazardous chemicals
• Learn more about Clean, Green Boating

Report Spills

Accidents happen, especially when the weather gets messy. If you see a spill or hazardous debris, please let us know.

• Report a spill
• Report dangerous wastes after storms
• Report other environmental problem

Other Resources

Emergency Management Division (EMD)

EMD has resources to help with your personal preparedness for winter challenges, like flooding and power outages.

• Flood Safe information
• Preparedness Videos - series of "How To" video clips demonstrates easy step-by-step instructions to help you secure the contents of your home and reduce hazards in the event of a disaster.
• Prepare Now for when the lights go out - includes In-Focus factsheets on Windstorms, Power Outages and Power Line Safety, Generator Safety, Carbon Monoxide Safety, Utility Safety, 72-Hour Comfort Kit, and additional In-Focus resources

Department of Health

• Weathering Storms - includes information about safe drinking water in emergencies

Office of the Insurance Commissioner

• Flood insurance

Access Washington

• Flood Emergency information - includes link for local road conditions