How to Deal With a Blizzard

Blizzard conditions make driving a challenge.

A blizzard is no ordinary snowstorm. You face a blizzard when, for at least three hours, winds reach or exceed 35 mph and there is enough blowing snow to stop you from seeing farther than a quarter-mile (see References 1, References 3). Temperatures will be well below freezing, too. The high winds, intense cold and driving snow are potentially lethal and present a serious hazard to travelers. With the correct preparation, though, you can deal effectively with a blizzard and weather the whiteout.

Things You'll Need

• Dried fruit
• Candy
• Unsalted nuts
• Canned food
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlight
• Spare batteries
• Sleeping bags
• Blankets
• Winter clothes and boots
• Cell phone and charger
• Tin can
• Waterproof matches
• Shovel
• Sack of road salt or grit
• Booster cables
• Tow rope
• Thermos of hot soup

Instructions

Home Preparation

1. Collect and store enough food and bottled water to last all members of your household for five days. The Center for Food Security and Public Health recommends high-energy foods such as dried fruit or nuts. Choose canned foods that need no cooking, too, in case of a power outage.

2. Collect and store a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a battery-powered radio and a flashlight. Add an extra pack of batteries, too. Include supplies of any medication members of your household need. Gather together sleeping bags, blankets and extra warm clothes, including boots, hats and gloves. Store all these items alongside your food and water supplies.

3. Compile a list of emergency contact numbers, including personal numbers for members of your household. Add the number of a friend or relative who lives in another state. Someone who lives outside the blizzard-affected area may be able to help coordinate action in an emergency. Put the list with your supplies and keep your cell phone charged.

4. Discuss with the others in your household the safest places to get shelter if the blizzard strikes when they are away from home. Find out where your local emergency shelters are and share the information with everyone in your household.

Vehicle Preparation

1. Have your car serviced before winter sets in. Use antifreeze and a suitable wintertime windshield washer fluid. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas if a blizzard is forecast, so you don't run out of fuel far from home and the tank and fuel lines don't get iced up.

2. Put a store of non-perishable, high-energy food in your car where you can reach it easily. Include items such as candy, dried fruit and unsalted nuts. The Red Cross advises you to have sufficient supplies to last 72 hours. Add a tin can and a pack of waterproof matches to your store. You can put a little snow into the can and melt it with a match to supply drinking water in an emergency.

3. Store a flashlight with an extra battery pack in your car's glove compartment, along with a first-aid kit and cell phone charger. Store a battery-powered radio, extra winter clothes, blankets and sleeping bags in the trunk. Add a shovel and a sack of road salt or grit, for digging your vehicle out of snowdrifts and to give its wheels purchase on icy roads. Also include booster cables and a tow rope in your cold weather kit.

During Blizzards

1. Check local weather reports to keep informed about severe winter weather conditions in your area. A good source is the National Weather Service provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

2. Stay inside, if possible, until blizzard conditions ease. In the event of a power outage, avoid using candles or naked flames, as emergency services may be unable to reach you if there is a house fire. Eat high-energy foods and drink plenty of water.

3. Go to your local emergency shelter if you run out of food or your home's heating fails and you cannot keep warm. If you have to venture out, try to stay dry and cover all exposed skin. Wear several layers of warm clothing and a hat. Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf.

On the Road

1. Travel only if there is no alternative. Drive slowly and in daylight. The high winds may bring down trees or power lines, causing obstructions you need to see clearly. Travel with a companion if possible and stay on main roads. Make sure someone else knows your travel plans, in case you get stranded. Add a thermos of warm soup to your emergency kit before setting out.

2. Turn on your hazard lights if you get stuck on a snowbound road. Tie a brightly colored item of clothing to your vehicle's antenna to make yourself visible to other road users and to signal you are in trouble. Stay inside your vehicle. Resist the urge to strike out for help through the snow, as it is easy to become lost in blizzard conditions.

3. Run the engine and the car heater for just 10 minutes an hour, to ration your fuel. Keep one window cracked open when running the engine, to remove any harmful fumes caused by snow blocking the vehicle's exhaust. Check and clear the tail pipe if the weather allows.

4. Put on several layers of warm clothing, gloves and a hat to conserve your body heat. Eat high-energy foods and drink plenty of water --- including melting snow in a can if necessary. Stomp your feet and clap your hands every few minutes to raise your circulation rate and keep yourself warm.

5. Take turns with your traveling companion to sleep. Take naps and avoid long periods of sleep, as your core body temperature falls during prolonged inactivity.

6. Check yourself and your traveling companion for signs of cold-related illness. Signs of frostbite include numbness of the fingers, toes, nose or ears, and a waxy appearance to the skin. Signs of hypothermia include confusion, memory loss, slurring speech and uncontrollable shivering. In the event of these, huddle together for warmth, consume warm drinks and summon emergency services.

Tips & Warnings

• Mittens are more effective than gloves at keeping your fingers warm.

• Do not use charcoal grills or camping gas stoves inside a building in the event of a power outage. The fumes produced by these can be deadly.

• Do not give alcohol or coffee to anyone you think is suffering from hypothermia or frostbite, as the changes they bring to blood circulation can intensify the effects of the cold.

• Do not eat snow, as this lowers your body temperature. If you need water, melt the snow before consuming it.

References

• The Weather Channel: Blizzards
• Center for Food Security and Public Health; Winter Storms and Your Family; June 2010
• National Center for Atmospheric Research: Dangerous Weather
• Whatcom County: Winter Storm Preparedness
• The American Red Cross: Winter Preparedness
• My Great Home: Preparing for Winter Storms and Blizzards

Resources

• NOAA: National Weather Service
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation: Winter Driving -- Be Prepared, Be Safe!