Winter safety tips from Arrowhead Cooperative

Though this winter has been off to a milder start than usual, cold weather safety remains an important topic. John Twiest is the CEO and General Manager at Arrowhead Cooperative. He spoke to WTIP about what Arrowhead is currently working on as 2023 wraps up, and about what recommendations he makes for residents concerned about safety during a power outage.

Twiest began by talking about Arrowhead’s continued work clearing the areas around power lines to improve access for repair crews during outage events. He mentioned, too, that clearing the right-of-ways around power lines is especially important given that most power outages happen during inclement weather. He said that clearing those areas is a matter of ensuring the safety of the work crews responding to outages during “the middle of the night, in horrible circumstances.”

Power outages can be dangerous in winter, especially if people are not prepared. Twiest said, “We’ve had a pretty easy winter so far, and people get complacent.” He highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness kits. He suggested including flashlights and a battery powered radio for weather updates, and a first aid kit, as well as access to non-perishable food, water, and warm clothes or blankets. Twiest also recommended making a household plan, and to be sure to check in on neighbors.

Twiest also listed some “don’ts” for winter safety. When the power is out, using heat sources like a gas oven or grill, or moving a generator into the house, can all be dangerous. Instead, Twiest recommended relying primarily on warm clothes or blankets. He said, “Make sure that anything with a gas-powered engine is outside of your house so you don’t have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning.”

There are designated warming locations for residents around the county for more extended periods of power outage. Twiest identified the community centers and emergency response hubs, like fire halls, which have their own backup power generators, as options for those in need of shelter.

WTIP’s Mark Abrahamson spoke with Arrowhead Cooperative CEO and General Manager John Twiest about what Arrowhead is currently working on, as well as tips on winter preparedness in the event of a power outage. Full audio below.

Kirsten Wisniewski December 30, 2023