Emergency Management Officials urge Montanans to prep for wind

MISSOULA, Mont. – As Western Montana anticipates wind gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour, emergency services are urging residents to take precautionary measures.

Chief Lonnie Rash of the Missoula City Fire Department emphasized the importance of securing outdoor items.

"If you have loose things outside of your house, lawn furniture, secure them so they don't become a blow hazard, as well as paying attention to where trees [and] tree roots may be coming, if a wind comes across, you'll actually have a tree come down,” Rash said.

Adriane Beck, Director of the Missoula Office of Emergency Management, highlighted potential challenges following a windstorm.

"Travel becomes hazardous in that we have tree debris in the roads. If power's out, sometimes our traffic signals aren't working. Be hyper vigilant about paying attention to traffic, paying attention to hazards that may be in the roads, but really taking the opportunity that if you don't need to be out in those conditions, choose not to be out in those conditions,” Beck said.

Chief Rash also provided advice on handling power outages.

“We want to make sure that people have charged up their cell phones so they have access to everyone they need [in] an emergency, that they have good lighting and battery backup and not to use candles,” Rash said.

He further advised residents to avoid downed power lines and to call 911 immediately to report them.