It’s that time of year again for a large portion of the United States…winter. With winter comes a change of season, and each one brings its own unique challenges. One of the biggest challenges are winter storms that can create all sorts of issues.
Here are some tips to help you stay warm and healthy during the winter season.
Firstly, Preparation is paramount. As the adage goes, “failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” This involves keeping a close eye on weather reports and ensuring that your home is well-stocked with essential supplies. Food and water should be stored in abundance, alongside other necessities such as medications, flashlights, and batteries. Don’t forget about your pets; have an ample supply of pet food as well.
Ensure you have a car kit readily available in case of a breakdown. Check that all your supplies are functional. If you don’t have a car kit, take the initiative to create one.
The second tip, Insulation, cannot be overlooked. Heat loss can occur rapidly in freezing temperatures, so it’s vital to keep your home as insulated as possible. Wear the correct clothing it could save your life. Hyperthermia can set in quickly, so running outside in a pair of jeans to retrieve a limb from your house can result in frostbite or even worse. Imagine if that limb caused a power outage, and you return inside, freezing from your impromptu excursion, with no means to warm up.
During the crazy ice storm Texas experienced in 2021, several of the deaths occurred from people freezing trying to repair some sort of damage.
The third survival tip is Communication. Keeping lines of communication open with friends, family, and emergency services is essential. Share your plans with someone outside the storm area so that they can check in on you. Remember to charge all electronic devices and have a jackery or something in case you need to charge your phone. If you must go out tell somebody where you are going and the route you will taking just in case.
It’s important to stay updated on the weather forecast. However, I’ve lost count of the number of times when the weatherman predicted just a light snowfall of a few inches, only to find myself shoveling a foot of snow six hours later.
The fourth tip is Maintaining Heat. During a winter storm, maintaining a source of heat can be lifesaving. If you have a fireplace, ensure it’s in working condition and that you have a sufficient supply of firewood. Never use a stove or oven as a heating source due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Space heaters can be useful but must be used with caution. Depending on your situation and how desperate things may be make sure you crack a couple of windows and have a working carbon monoxide detector.
This can also go if you are stranded in your vehicle on the road. A small portable power station and a travel heating blanket can go a long way while you are waiting to be rescued. However, a couple of old faithful emergency candles in a deep can can be much more reliable.
Lastly, Safety is crucial in surviving a winter storm. This involves avoiding unnecessary travel, keeping a safe distance from power lines, and knowing the signs of hypothermia. If you must go outside, dress warmly, and avoid overexertion to prevent a cold-related illness.
Being a father to a special needs daughter who relied on a ventilator, we had to carry a significant amount of equipment whenever we planned to go out even for a short while. The region we resided in, located in the northeastern part of the USA, experienced severe weather conditions from time to time, which made safety a paramount concern.
At the time, we lived in a fancy double-wide, the sky looked angry, tornado warnings were going off, and it appeared it was going to be a long night (because these things never happen during the day). We have a generator but no basement, so we decided to bug out to my inlaws, who were just up the road.
It turned out to be a wise decision. A small tornado touched down, but we were all safe and secure in the basement, watching TV until the power went out. After the storm subsided, I drove to my house to assess the damage, which thankfully wasn’t severe. Just a few sections of siding came down, and the force of the storm tore the doors off my locked shed.
One last thing, preparedness isn’t just having the right supplies, the best gear, and the coolest gadgets in the survival world (all thought that’s all good stuff). It’s about mitigating risk which is what we did. We saw an angry sky and crazy warnings and decided it’s time to bug out.
This winter season if a wild storm is about to come down on you, don’t just think about the supplies you have and think, “How can I mitigate risk?