Warning! Time to get ready for winter storms

It is the beginning of November and the trees still have most of their leaves and people are able to walk around with just a light coat - but is the mild weather lulling everyone into a sense of complacency when it comes to winter storms?

Several organizations think it is including the AAA that is reminding drivers that now is the time to get cars ready for winter driving.

According to Brian Dadswell, fleet operations manager for AAA, all cars should have a winter preparedness kit that includes things like jumper cables, tool kit, first aid supplies and kitty litter.  It is also strongly recommended to keep gas tanks 1/4 to 1/2 full and have a charging cable in your car for cell phones.

"Really, the snow could hit at any point in time," said Dadswell.

It is Winter Weather Awareness Week in New York State and the National Weather Service is urging people to make sure they have the proper supplies in their homes and vehicles for winter storms and possible power outages.  Some of those include extra prescriptions, diapers and formula, flashlight and batteries, NOAA weather radio, food that does not require refrigeration and emergency heat sources.

You can find much more information on the National Weather Service website: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter/index.shtml

New York State and Erie County are advising that drivers become familiar with Emergency Detour Routes that will be used if parts of the NYS Thruway have to be closed.

Throughout Erie County you may have seen the Emergency Detour Signs (labeled C-F).  The NYS Thruway Authority in collaboration with state and local parnters developed contingency plans and detour routes for the entire Thruway system that can be used during extreme weather events and/or other incidents.

These detour routes take into account the effect of the detoured traffic on state and local roadways.  This may require the actual detour to begin far ahead of the impacted section of roadway, so truck traffic can either safely continue travel or find a safe place to wait out the weather. 

Below are the Detour Routes you will see in the Buffalo Region:

Detour Route "C" - Interchange 57 - PA Exit 45 Westbound:http://www2.erie.gov/disaster/sites/www2.erie.gov.disaster/files/uploads/Detour%20Route%20C.pdf

Detour Route "D" - PA Exit 45 - Interchange 57 Eastbound:http://www2.erie.gov/disaster/sites/www2.erie.gov.disaster/files/uploads/Detour%20Route%20D.pdf

Detour Route "E" - Interchange 45-51 Westbound:http://www2.erie.gov/disaster/sites/www2.erie.gov.disaster/files/uploads/Detour%20Route%20E.pdf

Detour Route "F" - Interchange 51-45 Eastbound:http://www2.erie.gov/disaster/sites/www2.erie.gov.disaster/files/uploads/Detour%20Route%20F.pdf

To see where the detour routes will take you click on the hyperlinks above.

To see additional detours in other regions go to:http://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/detours/index.html

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly has more about winter preparations in his two reports.