01/21/2026
▫️◽️❄️ PIKEVILLE & PIKE COUNTY ❄️◽️▫️
WINTER STORM PREP & SAFETY CHECKLIST
🕒 Before the Storm (24–48 Hours Out)
Power & Communication
• Charge phones, power banks, tablets, and lanterns
• Download maps, books, movies for offline use
• Keep a battery radio or weather app available
Fuel, Cash & Medications
• Fill vehicle gas tanks early
• Get cash in small bills
• Pick up prescriptions and essential medications
Home Preparation
• Identify one warm room to “camp out” if power fails
• Locate breaker box and water shut-off valve
• Set fridge and freezer colder to preserve food
• Photograph property for insurance documentation
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🚰 Water & Pipe Protection
• Drip faucets on exterior walls when temperatures drop
• Open cabinet doors under sinks for warmth
• Disconnect and cover outdoor faucets
• Fill jugs, buckets, or bathtub with water for flushing
• Know how to shut off water quickly if a pipe bursts
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🍽️ Food & Kitchen
• Stock 3–5 days of no-cook foods
• Keep a manual can opener available
• Freeze water bottles to use as ice packs
• Keep a cooler ready if food must be moved outside
• Avoid buying large amounts of perishables before the storm
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🔥 Heat & Home Safety
• Gather extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers
• If using a fireplace, confirm chimney is clear
• Never use grills or generators inside homes or garages
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Use flashlights or battery lanterns instead of candles
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🚗 Vehicle & Travel
• Avoid driving once freezing rain begins
• Remember bridges and shaded roads freeze first
• Keep in car: blanket, water, snacks, phone charger, gloves
• Top off washer fluid and check tire tread/pressure
• Park vehicles away from trees and power lines
• Expect travel delays or cancellations
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🐾 Pets & Livestock
• Bring pets indoors with extra food and water
• Provide outdoor animals with unfrozen water
• Add straw or blankets to outdoor shelters
• Keep leashes and carriers accessible
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🏥 Medical & Special Needs
• Keep a written list of medications and dosages
• Store a basic first-aid kit
• Have backup batteries for medical devices
• Identify a place w/ power you can relocate to if needed
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⚠️ During the Storm
• Do not drive unless absolutely necessary
• Treat all downed power lines as live and dangerous
• Use only safe indoor heating methods
• Check on neighbors, especially the elderly
• Report outages to utility companies (not 911 unless emergency)
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✅ After the Storm
• Walk carefully—ice may refreeze overnight
• Check pipes for leaks as temperatures rise
• Discard refrigerated food held above 40°F for 4+ hours
• Avoid DIY electrical repairs near downed lines
• Be patient—power restoration after ice can take days
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📍 Local Emergency & Weather Resources
• National Weather Service – Pikeville Forecast & Alerts https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.5004&lon=-82.5078
• Weather.com – Pikeville Alerts
https://weather.com/weather/today/l/d5413deead6fbbdbf09a9c909bc413ae76b9a21b08d12c038a1b13dac0bbb09b
• Pike County AlertSense Notifications
https://public.alertsense.com/SignUp/?regionid=1293
• Pikeville City Public Safety
https://pikevilleky.gov/911-public-safety/
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🧊 Ice Storm Reality
• ¼” of ice can cause scattered outages
• ½” or more can shut down travel / power for days
• Ice storms are often more dangerous than snow in Eastern Kentucky
