The Winter Storm

Snowed in again! Buffalo, New York is receiving another hit from the lake affect snow, resulting in roof collapse, snow in, closed highways, and even some deaths. Many of these people were unprepared for the nasty storm and that is one reason these people are negatively affected by it (in addition to the inconvenience). But there are some things you can do to prepare for such a storm.

The news covered a case where Niagara University women's basketball team was stranded for 24 hours in a bus. They survived off of a few snacks and by melting snow into water. They were later rescued and given more supplies. This is not the only incident of someone being trapped in vehicle, but the question is... would you be ready for a blizzard like this?

With winter approaching, and even upon some of us, we should be preparing for severe weather. The first step is to have supplies in your vehicle for such an event. It is common to have an emergency kit in your vehicle containing jumper cables, a flashlight, gloves, and such. But it is a good idea to also have a fully stocked first aid kit, spare blankets, water, some food, and maybe even a spare coat. You should have enough supplies for each person for about 24 hours. Some people like to also have some cat litter for gaining traction when your vehicle is stuck.

So you have your supplies for a disaster, but how do you respond in such an instance? If stuck in a winter storm, it is imperative that you leave the vehicle running! If you shut off your vehicle, it can cool down quite fast and you may not be able to get it started again if snow builds up near the exhaust. This also implies that you should prepare by keeping a full fuel tank. This is the best way to survive a winter storm.

If your vehicle does get turned off and is unable to be restarted, stay in your vehicle! In a blizzard, you have a higher chance of survival in a vehicle than outside. Not only that, but a vehicle is easier to spot than a person and more than likely, there will be first responders looking for people stranded in their vehicles. If your vehicle does die, be sure to start bundling up. The quicker you heat up your blankets and jackets, the better. This also implies that you have enough blankets for everyone in the vehicle. If there is more than one person in the vehicle, share body heat. To many people, this may seem awkward (especially with certain individuals) but shared body heat is the best way to stay warm. If you are bundled up with someone, you not only share body heat, but also the blankets that you're using. 

In the event your vehicle shuts down and it's below freezing, try to also keep your water warm. You don't know how long you will be there and you don't want to risk having your water freeze on you. You will want to do your best at conserving water. Like I said, you don't know how long you will be there and want to have enough water to last through the storm. When it stops snowing and the wind dies down, it would be safe to open your door to collect some snow. You will have an abundance of snow to melt and drink.

Be sure that you have enough food for everyone! In the winter, you burn more calories to stay warm and you need to replace those calories by eating. If you are cold and shivering, those calories burn up even faster. Dried foods and canned foods are the best to have on hand, and something that does not need to be cooked. MREs are a great choice for food to have on hand. Dehydrated meals are also great because they can be kept for a while and you just need to add water before eating. Like water, be sure that you conserve your food because you don't know how long it will be until you can get free.

After the storm has subsided, don't try to get out and free your vehicle. Chances are, the roads are still un-drivable and you won't be able to go anywhere anyways. All you will do is burn up calories and cool yourself down. Your best bet is to stay in your vehicle and wait for a plow to come through and clear things up. However, if you're in a town and nearby a house, you will probably be safe (depending on the situation) to get out and see if you can warm up in the house. But you must be sure that the owner is home and the door is clear, otherwise you will be wasting precious energy.

It is a smart idea to also have your house, or apartment, winterized. Be sure that the doors and windows seal well to not only keep the heat in, but to avoid drafts and possible snow blowing in. You should also be sure that you have a well insulated house to keep from high heating bills. With the cases in Buffalo, New York, some roofs are collapsing from the weight of the snow. This can be a real danger. So, if the weather is feasible after a blizzard, you may consider clearing the snow off of the roof. Just be careful to not fall through the roof, yourself. You already have that massive weight of the snow and your added weight may be the breaking point. 

Lastly, the most important factor in surviving a disaster: keep your cool (no pun intended). The worst thing a person can do in these situations is to panic. When we panic, we lose all rational thought and can no longer make the sound decisions that we need to. Stay calm and think through the problem. My philosophy is "panicking won't make your situation any better". If you're stranded in your car, leave it running and stay calm. If your house gets snowed in, stay calm and try to clear the snow after the storm is passed. If it helps, try saying the alphabet or counting to 30. For some people, listening to music will mellow them out. Find whatever keeps you calm. Remember that when we panic, the other person panics, then you panic even more. 

Surviving a blizzard or winter storm can be a frightening experience for some. For others, it may not even cause them to bat an eye. In either case, everyone should be prepared for the possibility of a disaster. Follow these guidelines and you may have a better chance of not being miserable in a storm.