As the United States braces for winter weather in the coming months it is important to know what steps you and your community can take to ensure you stay as safe as possible. Some of the most important things that you can do to prepare yourself for winter weather are to gather food in case stores and restaurants close – it is important to ensure that the food that you get can be cooked without power just in case the power goes out – and to salt your sidewalks and driveway. There are, of course, other things you can do to prepare but these are some of the staples that exist in terms of preparation.

Conway Corp CEO Bret Carroll highlighted the plans that the company has in place when it comes to the threat of severe winter weather. 

Carroll said that Conway Corp really stays prepared year round by trimming back trees so that they do not hang over powerlines and by upholding mutual aid agreements with other companies that are similar to them.

In regards to the mutual aid agreements Carroll said, “if there are any issues and [these other companies] have personnel that they can free up to come help us.”

These agreements stand in terms of severe winter weather conditions and other severe weather conditions such as wind or tornado damage and even flooding.

Conway Corp also has to make sure that before the weather hits they must make sure that their trucks are fueled up and that all of their equipment is appropriately treated for the weather.

Carroll said, “You don’t want your gear and equipment holding you back when you have a bad weather event.”

Carroll also highlighted what steps the city of Conway takes to prepare for winter weather. The city makes sure they treat the roads, have their plows and other machinery ready and even set up warming stations for the community.

Carroll advised people to stay away from downed power lines and to stock up on food and water.

When it comes to stocking up on food it is important to get nonperishable items that will stay good no matter what condition they are housed in. It is important to utilize the resources that are available to you.

When it comes to how to prepare for winter weather as a college student there are many different tactics that are available: students can go home or stay on campus, they can go out and get food from stores.

University of Central Arkansas students are able to go into the on campus food pantry to stock up on food like freshmen students Cheryl Kurz and Greenlee Scroggins did.

Scroggins said, “[my friends and I] went to the food pantry… and my mom also sent me some food.”

Kurz said, “I went to the food pantry… I made sure my faucet was dripping, all the basic things you have to do… I bundled up really well before I went to bed.”