{"id":17057,"date":"2026-01-23T12:20:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=17057"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:48:51","slug":"17057-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/17057-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>January 23, 2026<br \/>\n<strong>Media Contact:<\/strong> Daniel Hunsucker, PIO; Daniel.Hunsucker@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>WISE, Va. <strong>\u2013 <\/strong>A significant winter storm is expected to impact our community this weekend. The storm will arrive as snow Saturday afternoon and pick up overnight Saturday into Sunday continuing through the day.\u00a0\u00a0 An increase in sleet\/freezing rain potential will complicate the forecast. The increased freezing rain probabilities amplify the concern for power outages. The Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts urge everyone to prepare now to keep you and your family safe, warm and healthy during this storm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe strongly encourage everyone to take the time to prepare for severe winter weather this weekend,\u201d said Reisa Sloce, District Director of Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts.\u00a0 \u201cIt is important to check on your family and friends as well as any elderly community members to make sure they are prepared before the storm and safe during and after. We want you to stay warm, safe and healthy!\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before the Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before the storm arrives, the Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts urge you to take these steps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure you have an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/severe-weather-preparedness\/preparing-your-emergency-supply-kit\/\">emergency supply kit<\/a> on hand and keep an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/winter-weather\/safety\/#cdc_preparedness_steps_h2-get-your-car-ready\">emergency kit for your car<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, home-use medical devices, and vitamins. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply of medicines.<\/li>\n<li>Check your smoke and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/public-health-toxicology\/carbon-monoxide\/\">carbon monoxide<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Replenish fuel for your car and heating sources.<\/li>\n<li>Weatherproof your home by insulating exposed pipes and caulking and weather strip doors\/windows.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure you understand the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/lwx\/warningsdefined\">warnings, watches and advisories<\/a> and have multiple ways to receive alerts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>During\/After the Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/images\/wrn\/Infographics\/2022\/winter-pets-2022.png\">your pets<\/a> indoors and ensure they have water.<\/li>\n<li>Stay indoors and limit your exposure to the cold.<\/li>\n<li>Properly ventilate emergency heat sources.<\/li>\n<li>Keep generators outside at least 20 feet from your home.<\/li>\n<li>Check on neighbors and family.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you must go outside, take the following precautions to stay safe and prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/winter-weather\/prevention\/preventing-frostbite.html\">frostbite<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/winter-weather\/prevention\/\">hypothermia<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wear proper footwear for traction. Take slow, short steps.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/images\/ohx\/Preparedness\/Winter\/_images_wrn_social_media_cold_infographic.jpg\">Dress warmly<\/a> and in layers. Make sure you cover your head, fingers and toes.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid getting wet and change out of wet clothes as soon as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Stay hydrated. Drink warm beverages.<\/li>\n<li>Take frequent breaks if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/images\/ohx\/Preparedness\/Winter\/_images_wrn_Infographics_2022_Safe-Shoveling-2022.png\">shoveling<\/a> snow or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/niosh\/cold-stress\/about\/index.html\">working outdoors<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Stay off the roads. If you must travel, check the road conditions and your route first. Allow extra time and follow these tips from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdot.virginia.gov\/travel-traffic\/driver-safety\/weather\/\">Virginia Department of Transportation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For more information, contact the Cumberland Plateau Health District at 276-889-7621 or the LENOWISCO Health District 276-328-8000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>January 23, 2026 Media Contact: Daniel Hunsucker, PIO; Daniel.Hunsucker@vdh.virginia.gov Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm WISE, Va. \u2013 A significant winter storm is expected to impact our community this weekend. The storm will arrive as snow Saturday afternoon and pick up overnight Saturday into Sunday continuing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":518,"featured_media":0,"parent":16853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[1459,716,96,1456,161,364,1464,1457,1458,1461],"class_list":["post-17057","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-advisories","tag-carbon-monoxide","tag-cumberland-plateau-health-district","tag-emergency-supply-kit","tag-lenowisco-health-district","tag-reisa-sloce","tag-storm","tag-warnings","tag-watches","tag-winter-storm"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm - Newsroom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/17057-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm - Newsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"January 23, 2026 Media Contact: Daniel Hunsucker, PIO; Daniel.Hunsucker@vdh.virginia.gov Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts Urge the Community to Prepare for Incoming Winter Storm WISE, Va. \u2013 A significant winter storm is expected to impact our community this weekend. 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