North Georgia Winter Safety Tips

The holidays are over but winter has just begun. We might not get a ton of snow in the North Georgia Mountains but we do get ice and hazardous conditions. Below you will find some helpful tips to keep you safe and warm this winter:

1) If you have a fireplace keep wood stocked in case the heat goes out. Make sure your roof is free and clear of leaves and debris so the embers from the chimney don’t catch the roof on fire.

2) Prevent pipes from freezing.

- Keep your house temperature at 50 degrees or higher.

- Let water drip.

- Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat to circulate.

- Wrap exposed pipes nearest exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape.

- Close all windows near water pipes.

- If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time shut off your water supply.

3) Keep a flash light, candles, and nonperishable food in stock in case of a power outage.

4) If you use well water keep gallons of water in stock. If your power goes out so will your well pump.

5) Salt walk ways to break up ice to prevent slipping and falling.

6) Avoid driving on secondary roads during icy conditions as these roads do not get salted.