To help residents minimize the risks and mitigate the hazards of winter, Blue Earth County is participating in “Winter hazard Awareness Week” in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, National Weather Services and other agencies to inform, remind and reinforce the behaviors that lead to a safe winter season.
Blue Earth County and City of Mankato Emergency Management officials are visiting third grade classrooms throughout the County to help provide students with life-saving information regarding winter safety. The school visits include the opportunity to learn about snowplow safety and to assemble car safety kits for winter.
Additionally, pizza boxes from restaurants throughout Blue Earth County will have special stickers on them to help share winter safety information.
Blue Earth County in partnership with the Mankato Department of Public Safety encourages drivers to be prepared as weather and road conditions change:
• clear snow from vehicle all windshields, hoods and roofs; allow windows to defrost before driving -- it's a law that protects people from harm;
• in addition to being required from sunset to sunrise, state statute requires vehicle headlights be displayed when it is raining, snowing, sleeting or hailing, and any time when visibility is impaired by weather such as fog;
• stay back, stay alive -- at least five car lengths from snow plows because an average snow plow weighs 50,000 pounds vs. a car's weight of 3,000 pounds;
• check current road conditions and follow authority's advice about travel;
• buckle up all passengers;
• during increasing hours of darkness, it's important to be extra careful of pedestrians and bicyclists who may be hard to see;
• allow extra time to reach destinations
For more information about winter safety tips when traveling visit; www.blueearthcountymn.gov/wintersafety