Disaster Scenario | Winter Storm
Winter storms and blizzards take their toll every season with feet of snow, driving winds to forecasted bomb cyclones that the northeastern part of the U.S. experienced in 2018. The cold is coming, it arrives every year. So how do you prepare for Winter has to throw at you? First you need to know what to expect.
According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory:
A winter storm is a combination of heavy snow, blowing snow and/or dangerous wind chills. A winter storm is life-threatening.
Blizzards are dangerous winter storms that are a combination of blowing snow and wind resulting in very low visibilities. While heavy snowfalls and severe cold often accompany blizzards, they are not required. Sometimes strong winds pick up snow that has already fallen, creating a ground blizzard.
An ice storm is a storm which results in the accumulation of at least .25” of ice on exposed surfaces. They create hazardous driving and walking conditions. Tree branches and powerlines can easily snap under the weight of the ice.
Lake effect storms are not low pressure system storms. As a cold, dry air mass moves over the Great Lakes regions, the air picks up lots of moisture from the Great Lakes. This air, now full of water, dumps the water as snow in areas generally to the south and east of the lakes.
Snow squalls are brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes region.
70% of reported snow and ice related injuries occur in automobile accidents and being caught in the storm. Does your car have a set of snow chains, shovel, tow rope and some emergency supplies to weather a storm inside? Do you have a way to stay warm, to eat, any daily medications you might need for a few days? This is why winterizing your car’s bug out bags from summer and fall to winter. Add some hand warmers, a hat, gloves, a sleeping bag or emergency blanket and added calories. This will keep you alive and comfortable until the storm passes and you can get home to your warm fireplace and stockpile of food. Once you get home, do you have enough supplies to keep everyone fed, warm and happy?
Now that you are home…. what do you have when i comes to supplies? The roads are impassable, the stores are closed or without power, the electrical grid is down, maybe a pipe froze and burst and you now do not have water to drink and cook with. What do you do? Truprep has put a lot of thought into this and this is why we carry what you would need to get through this.
You would need some of the following:
- Heat source (Make sure it is approved for indoor use)
- Blankets
- Food (Make sure you have enough to get you through the storm, an emergency kit of dehydrated, canned or MRE’s would be good to have on hand)
- Water (1-gallon per person per day for drinking, add more for cooking and hygiene)
- Medications (If a storm is coming and you are low on medications, get them refilled ASAP)
- Fire-starters, candles and flashlights
- Fuel (This could be wood for the fireplace, propane, coal, gasoline for your backup generator)
- Alternate power source (Solar, gas generator, battery packs)
- Battery powered radio (To get updates on weather conditions and the news)
- Items to keep the family entertained while cooped up together (Puzzles, a deck of cards, board games, books)
Just because the power is off, the roads are closed and you and your family are stuck in the house, it doesn’t mean you can be comfortable and have fun.
