10 Ways to Survive a Snowstorm

Survive a Snowstorm

There’s no truer statement than the old adage “you can’t control the weather.” You can’t even predict it with complete certainty. As advanced as our meteorological forecasting techniques are these days, weather systems are changeable forces of nature. They can come on quickly, switch direction without notice and build in intensity in a short period of time. Whether you’re at home, on foot, in your car or at work, a winter snowstorm can catch you off guard.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center defines a blizzard as a “violent winter storm, lasting at least 3 hours, which combines below freezing temperatures and very strong wind laden with blowing snow that reduces visibility to less than 1 km.”

If a blizzard is bad enough, snow plows and salt trucks won’t even brave the elements. Roads become desolate ice paths, businesses shut down, schools close and grocery stores get picked clean. If your home loses power and you have no backup heating system in place, your very life becomes at risk. Here are 10 tips on how to survive a snowstorm.

10. Be Prepared

One thing you’ll want if a blizzard hits is running water. Water pipes tend to freeze in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (about -7 degrees Celsius). Prevent this by wrapping your interior pipes with foam insulation. If the temperature is dropping, leave your faucets running at a slow drip.

You should also do simple things like pay your utility bills on time and keep your cell phone charged. Losing gas or electricity to an unpaid bill before a snowstorm hits is a mistake you won’t want to make. If a blizzard knocks out your power and home phone service, turn your charged cell phone off and save the charge for emergency calls.

9. Stock Up on Food

As with preparing your home, it’s also vital to have your stock of food supplies ready when the storm blows in. In places that don’t typically get severe winter weather, grocery stores are often jam-packed with shoppers when a storm is imminent. To avoid walking the crowded aisles and staring at empty shelves, stock up ahead of time. Make a list of items you’d need for each member of your household to live for seven days, more if you live in a cold-weather region. And make sure you don’t forget your pets—keeping a stash of dog and cat food is a good idea. You should also include medicines and personal items like deodorant, toothpaste, soap and shampoo.

Canned and dry goods are the best way to store food long term. Canned fruits and vegetables may not be the best, but they’re good to have on hand to ensure that you don’t eat boxed macaroni for a solid week. Also keep at least five gallons of water on hand. If you can’t live without that morning cup of coffee, buy a stove-top percolator or French press to use if your power goes out.

8. Buy Batteries

Get a box and fill it with some emergency equipment, then store it out of the way. Include a flashlight or two with plenty of extra batteries. Hand-crank flashlights are good for a long-term situation, but not really necessary. Buy a battery operated AM/FM radio or weather monitor to keep tabs on the storm system. If you have electric heating, buy a kerosene heater and enough fuel for a week of steady use. It’s important to make sure the heater is ventilated properly. If you have fireplace, keep a stash of emergency wood on hand and don’t use it unless you’re snowed in.

Sleeping bags and wool blankets are also a good idea to have on hand. If you have an electric stove, it’s smart to invest in an inexpensive camping stove and some fuel canisters. You can find dual-burner propane models for about $100 [source: Coleman.com]. If your refrigerator goes out, use a cooler packed with snow or ice to keep your food fresh.

7. Shovel Smart

People die every year from heart attacks while shoveling snow. During New York’s blizzard of 1996, a large portion of the 4,600 911 calls received were heart-attack related. No one knows if they were all shoveling snow, but at least seven people in New Jersey and Long Island are reported to have died while clearing their driveways [source: The New York Times]. This happens when people who are more used to channel surfing than exercise leap from their couches and start lifting 40-pound heaps of snow. This kind of sudden increase in activity isn’t a good thing if you aren’t in shape. If you need to clear your driveway, get help from a young neighbor. If not, go slow and steady, taking breaks as often as you need.

It’s also a good idea to shovel early and often to avoid a massive build-up of snow. A low snow level is easier for the sun to melt once the storm passes. Don’t shovel after a meal or cigarette, as your blood is being used to digest food or the vessels constricted from nicotine. Push the snow straight ahead, then to one side, and don’t ever attempt to toss a heavy load of snow over your shoulder.

6. Watch the Toes

If you don’t wear gloves, warm socks or a winter hat, frostbite is something to look for. After prolonged exposure to the bitter cold, ice crystals form on the outside of your skin cells. This dehydrates the cell and eventually kills it. Your outer extremities are usually the first to be affected—fingers, toes and ears.

The two main stages of frostbite and its symptoms are:

Superficial frostbite – numbness, tingling, burning, itching. The skin looks frozen white and retains firmness when pressed.
Deep frostbite – increased and eventual loss of sensation, swelling, blood blisters. The skin is yellowish and hard and can appear blackened and dead.
To treat frostbite, move to a warm area as soon as you can and elevate the affected area. Remove any restrictive clothing or jewelry to keep from further inhibiting the flow of blood. Thawing should be performed by a doctor, so get to a hospital as soon as you can. If you can’t get to a doctor warm the area quickly in water between 104-107 degrees Fahrenheit (40-42 degrees Celsius). This will be a painful process, but necessary to save your digits .

5. Snuggle Up

If your home loses power in a snowstorm and you have no backup heating system, developing hypothermia is a very real possibility. Simply said, hypothermia is when your body loses more heat than it can produce.

What you should watch out for:

Slurred speech
Stiff joints
Loss of coordination
Slow pulse
Uncontrollable shivering
Loss of bladder control
Puffy face
Mental confusion
The human body is a machine that can only operate at the same consistent temperature on the thermometer—98.6 degrees. If hypothermia sets in and you aren’t able to warm your body, you could die. If you feel like hypothermia is beginning, warm yourself as quickly as you can. Use blankets, sleeping bags and layers of clothing. If you’re with someone, snuggle up to borrow some of their body heat. Drink something warm, and then apply warm towels or water bottles to the head, neck, armpits and groin area to raise the core temperature. If you’re able to, get to a hospital for treatment.

4. Layer Up

The best thing to do during a snowstorm is to stay indoors. But if you absolutely need to get somewhere on foot, you’ll have to be very smart in order to survive. The most important thing you need to do is to dress appropriately. Loose, warm, layered clothing is the way to go. Loose clothing helps the blood flow, increasing warmth. Wearing a hat and gloves is essential because most of our body heat leaves through the extremities. Mittens are warmer than gloves because the fingers are allowed to touch each other and create additional heat. The same goes for your feet—layer your socks and wear wool if you have it. Snowstorm conditions are usually accompanied by limited visibility, so make your outer layer a bright color so you can be seen by others.

Once you have all layered and ready to go, make sure you take a cell phone if you have one. It’s likely that the roads won’t be crowded with cars, but the chances of a random car sliding off the road into you are pretty good, so avoid walking roadside if you can. If you find you can’t reach your destination or you get lost or stuck, get out of the elements as soon as you can. Duck into an open store or if you’re in a rural area, hole up in a barn. If there are no buildings around, get behind something large to shelter you from the wind.

3. Stay with Your Car

Let’s say you swerve off the road in a snowstorm and find yourself stuck and alone. This is a pretty frightening scenario and one that could leave you struggling to survive. Following a few basic rules can help you make it through until the weather clears.

Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with the following items:

AM/FM radio
Flashlight
Batteries
Water
Snacks
Sleeping bag
Blanket
Compact shovel
First-aid kit
Flares
Fire-starting kit
Bright colored towel
Tow rope
The No. 1 rule is to stay with your car. It provides shelter and is easier for rescuers to spot. Tell someone where you’re traveling and what route you’re taking. Take your cell phone and car charger along and dial 911 if you can get a signal. Start your car and run it for about 10 minutes per hour—this will allow you to run the heater as well as ensuring that it will still start. The last thing you want to do is run out of gas, so keep a close eye on the needle.

You should also raise the hood to indicate that you’re in distress. Ration out your snacks and water in case you end up stuck for a long period of time. Dehydration is common in cold weather, so drink about a cup of water per hour. Check the tailpipe to make sure it’s not packed with snow. If it is, clear it—carbon monoxide will back up into the car and kill you. Finally, tie your colored towel around your antenna and keep your dome light on at night so you can be seen.

2. Stay Safe

Sometimes it’s just not an option not to go to work. Some jobs depend on having someone there at all times, no matter what the weather is like. If you have a job like this, it’s important to keep an emergency stash of food, water and blankets around just like you would in your home or car.

If you have advanced warning of the storm and you need to be at work, drive in before the snow starts and plan on staying until it’s safe—even if that means staying the night. It’s a good idea to bring a sleeping bag and some extra clothes if this is the case. You should also make sure your family has everything they need before you leave.

1. Entertainment

No matter what the situation, in your car, at home or at work—if you’re stuck in a snowstorm, try and keep yourself entertained. A positive mental attitude and will to live is as important as any survival technique. Many people who are stuck or trapped try and think of future goals they want to accomplish. This gives them hope for the future and keeps the mind occupied and active. Play some word games or sing songs. Do anything you can to take your mind away from your dire circumstance. Before you know it, the storm will pass and blue skies will appear.

by Charles W. Bryant

SOURCE : adventure.howstuffworks.com

Photo credit:Rob Casey/Getty Images

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