Blizzards can be depressing. There is no way around it. The cold gets all the way into your bones. Over and above that, you’ll probably be stuck at home for days. You’ll need to shovel your driveway, ‘winterize’ your vehicle and take other measures to get by.
It may all seem like a hassle to go about these tasks while your teeth chatter. There is a silver lining to these dark ‘blizzardy’ clouds – your survival during these times is mostly within your control.
Unlike wildfires, hurricanes, tsunamis, etc. which are devastating and highly unpredictable, during a blizzard, you’ll probably be hunkered down at home. The roads may be blocked or too icy to travel on. Most malls may be closed… but if you have been a good prepper, you’d have prepared for such an event.
Having sufficient food supplies to last you 2 or 3 months will ensure that you easily weather the blizzard without going hungry. If you’ve stored water, even if the extreme cold freezes the water mains, you’ll still have water to drink.
Hypothermia can be prevented if you have enough thermal wear for you and your family. To survive a blizzard requires 4 crucial components.
- Food
- Water
- Heat – thermal wear, fuel for a heater, etc.
- Entertainment – books, games, etc.
The entertainment component may seem frivolous, but when you’re cooped up at home for days on end, and the power goes out rendering your TV useless – having some good books to read and a few games to play will help to relieve the mind-numbing boredom.
Keep a portable transistor radio (powered by batteries) in your house. Even if all the power goes out, you’ll be able to listen to weather updates and have an idea of what the situation is like.
You should have a few essential items in your garage or at home to deal with some of the problems blizzards. You’ll need a snow blower or a shovel to clear your driveway. A handheld blowtorch to cut frozen locks may come in useful too.
Keep some rock salt in your garage. You can salt your driveway to prevent ice from forming.
Have a bag of sand in your vehicle in case you get stuck in the snow and need some traction to get moving.
Your home needs to be checked to see if it’s ‘leaking’ heat. Fill up any cracks in the walls and seal any gaps where heat from the home can escape outside. Use insulating materials to cover your windows. Do whatever you need to in order to retain heat and warmth in your house.
The best way to survive a blizzard is to stay indoors (at home). If you must drive outside, make sure to have chains on your tires for extra grip. Keep your gas tank full and have antifreeze in your boot.
The worst thing that could happen is you getting stuck in your car that’s trapped outside during a blizzard. Your car battery may die, and you may need to jumpstart it. So, you’ll need portable equipment in your car for that.
It’s best to also keep these items in your car – thermal blankets, some food and water and a flashlight that you could use to signal for help. All these will help you if you get stuck outside while in your vehicle.
Most preppers will be able to prepare for blizzards if they do what they need to well in advance. Make a plan and stick to it. Store the food, water, winter wear and equipment that you’ll need.
“Good luck is a residue of preparation.” – Jack Youngblood