Wisconsin, Indiana Declare Winter Weather Preparedness Weeks

Indiana designated Nov. 8–14 and Wisconsin Nov. 16–20 as Winter Weather Preparedness Week, with officials urging residents to plan for cold, snow, ice, hazardous travel and possible power outages. Recommended steps include stocking home and vehicle emergency kits, dressing warmly, checking forecasts and road conditions before travel, and slowing down on icy roads. Indiana guidance also stresses safe heating practices, including never using an oven to heat a home and taking precautions with space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves. Wisconsin officials reported more than 100 cold-related deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations during the 2025–26 winter season, while preliminary transportation data showed winter road conditions contributed to nearly 30 deaths and thousands of injuries. Separately, Duke Energy Foundation grants totaling nearly $300,000 are supporting emergency response preparation, equipment and training for public safety agencies across Indiana.