ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - As thousands of people across Southwest Georgia brace from tomorrow’s arctic blast, officials want you to prioritize safety as you get prepared for the storm.

The American Red Cross responds to 65,000 disasters a year. Most of which are for house fires. Suzanne Lawler, regional communications communicator for the American Red Cross, says some of the ways people can reduce their chances of a home fire is to be mindful in how you use your space heater.

“Keep them on a flat surface. Plug them directly into the wall and not a power strip. That was something that I recently learned,” said Lawler. “You want to plug your space heaters directly into the wall. Keep them out of a path, like out of your hallway where your kids could accidentally tip them over, or your pets could accidentally tip them over. And make sure when you leave a room, you turn off that space heater. That is key.”

In the case you lose power and don’t have a generator, Lawler says to go to a public place to stay warm. You can download the American Red Cross app on your phone for more ways to get prepared.

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