A snowstorm, also known as a blizzard when conditions are severe, is a weather event characterized by significant snowfall and strong winds, often leading to very low visibility. These powerful winter phenomena are formed when cold air meets moist air, typically occurring in temperate regions during winter months. Historically, snowstorms have caused widespread disruption and danger. Notable examples include the Great Blizzard of 1888 in the northeastern United States, which caused immense snowfall and economic paralysis, and the Blizzard of ’77 in the Great Lakes region, which demonstrated the devastating impact of wind chill and heavy snow.
The primary dangers associated with a snowstorm include:
- Hypothermia: A dangerous drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold.
- Frostbite: Damage to body tissue caused by freezing, most commonly affecting fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
- Power Outages: Heavy snow and ice can down power lines, leading to loss of heat, light, and communication.
- Stranded Travel: Roads become impassable, leading to vehicles getting stuck and people being trapped.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Improper use of alternative heating sources (like generators or charcoal grills indoors) can lead to this silent killer.
- Falling Trees/Branches: Ice and heavy snow can cause trees and branches to break, posing a hazard.
Knowing how to survive a snowstorm means being prepared for these challenges, whether you’re safe at home or unexpectedly caught outdoors.
Preparation is Paramount: Before the Snowstorm Hits
The best way to survive a snowstorm is to prepare well in advance. Pay attention to weather forecasts and act swiftly when a snowstorm warning is issued.
- Monitor Weather Forecasts:
- Stay updated with local weather advisories and warnings. Terms like “Winter Storm Watch” mean conditions are possible, while “Winter Storm Warning” means severe weather is imminent or occurring. A “Blizzard Warning” indicates sustained winds of 35 mph or more, considerable falling or blowing snow, and visibility of less than a quarter mile for at least three hours.
- Assemble an Emergency Kit:
- Water: At least 1 gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation.
- Non-Perishable Food: A 3-7 day supply of easy-to-prepare food (canned goods, dried fruit, nuts, energy bars). Include a manual can opener.
- First-Aid Kit: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, prescription medications, any necessary personal medical items.
- Flashlights and Extra Batteries: Headlamps are also excellent for hands-free illumination.
- Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio: For receiving emergency broadcasts.
- Fully Charged Power Bank: For charging mobile phones and small devices.
- Warm Blankets/Sleeping Bags: Essential for staying warm if heating fails.
- Matches/Lighter: For lighting candles or starting a controlled fire (if safe and applicable).
- Whistle: To signal for help.
- Moist Towelettes, Garbage Bags, Plastic Ties: For personal sanitation.
- Wrench or Pliers: To turn off utilities if necessary.
- Local Maps: In case electronic navigation is unavailable.
- Emergency Contact Information: Written down, in case your phone dies.
- Cash: ATMs may not work during power outages.
- Prepare Your Home:
- Insulate: Seal drafty windows and doors with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Heating System Check: Have your furnace or heating system serviced annually. Ensure you have alternative heating sources if safe to use (e.g., a well-maintained fireplace with sufficient wood, a propane heater with proper ventilation).
- Carbon Monoxide Detector: Crucial if using alternative heating. Test it regularly.
- Clear Gutters: Prevent ice dams and water damage.
- Stock Up: Fill your vehicle’s fuel tank, get necessary prescriptions, and stock up on groceries.
- Charge Devices: Fully charge all phones, laptops, and power banks.
- Fill Bathtub with Water: For flushing toilets if water supply is interrupted.
- Know How to Shut Off Utilities: Locate your main water shut-off valve and electrical breaker box.
- Prepare Your Vehicle (if travel is unavoidable):
- Keep your fuel tank full.
- Have a winter survival kit in your car: blankets, shovel, sand/kitty litter for traction, tow rope, first-aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, non-perishable food, water.
- Ensure tires are properly inflated and have good tread. Consider snow tires or chains.
Surviving at Home During a Snowstorm
If you are at home when a snowstorm hits, your priority is to stay warm, safe, and connected.
- Stay Indoors:
- Avoid all unnecessary travel.
- Stay off roads to allow emergency services and snowplows to operate.
- Stay Warm:
- Layer Clothing: Wear multiple layers of loose, warm clothing. Wool, fleece, and down are excellent insulators.
- Conserve Heat: Close off unused rooms. Drape blankets over windows for added insulation.
- Safe Heating: If power goes out, only use safe alternative heating sources.
- NEVER use a gas oven, charcoal grill, or unvented propane/kerosene heaters indoors. These produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, deadly gas.
- Ensure fireplaces are well-vented and only burn appropriate materials.
- Keep a carbon monoxide detector with fresh batteries in a central location.
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of warm fluids (water, broth, tea) to help maintain body temperature. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can lead to dehydration.
- Eat Regularly: Your body needs calories to generate heat.
- Ensure Safety:
- Generator Safety: If using a generator, always place it outdoors in a well-ventilated area, far from windows and doors, to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
- Fire Safety: Keep flammable materials away from heat sources. Have a fire extinguisher readily available.
- Avoid Overexertion: Shoveling heavy snow can be strenuous and lead to heart attacks. Take frequent breaks and listen to your body. Avoid shoveling alone.
- Check on Neighbors: Especially the elderly or those with medical conditions.
- Communication:
- Use your charged phone or a battery-powered radio for news and updates.
- Conserve phone battery by limiting usage. Texting uses less power than calling.
- Have a plan for communicating with family members in case traditional methods fail.
Surviving Stranded in a Vehicle During a Snowstorm
Getting stuck in a vehicle during a snowstorm can be life-threatening. Staying calm and taking the right actions can make all the difference.
- Stay in Your Vehicle:
- Your vehicle offers immediate shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to find you. Do not attempt to walk to safety in blizzard conditions. Hypothermia and disorientation are severe risks.
- Signal for Help:
- Tie a brightly colored cloth to your antenna or door handle.
- Turn on your interior dome light at night when rescuers are likely to be looking for lights.
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Stay Warm:
- Run the Engine Periodically: Run the engine for about 10 minutes every hour to warm the interior. Ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow to prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Crack a window slightly for ventilation.
- Layer Up: Put on all available warm clothing and cover yourself with blankets or sleeping bags.
- Cuddle for Warmth: If with others, huddle together for shared body heat.
- Stay Active (Carefully): Wiggle fingers and toes, clap hands, move arms and legs to maintain circulation, but avoid vigorous activity that leads to sweating.
- Conserve Resources:
- Fuel: Use the engine sparingly.
- Battery: Limit use of lights, radio, and phone.
- Food and Water: Ration your emergency supplies. Eat high-calorie foods.
- Maintain Ventilation:
- Crucially, periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Even a small amount of snow blockage can be deadly.
- Crack a window (on the side away from the wind and snow) slightly for ventilation, especially when the engine is running.
- Stay Aware:
- Listen for news on your radio.
- Conserve your phone battery for emergencies.
- Monitor yourself and others for signs of hypothermia (shivering, confusion, drowsiness, slurred speech) and frostbite (numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin).
What to Do After the Snowstorm
Once the snowstorm has passed, safety remains paramount.
- Avoid Travel Immediately: Wait until authorities declare roads safe and clear.
- Check for Damages: Inspect your home for burst pipes, roof damage, or downed power lines. Report any downed lines to your utility company immediately and stay far away from them.
- Be Mindful of Carbon Monoxide: Before re-entering your home if you left it, ensure there is no carbon monoxide buildup if alternative heating was used.
- Conserve Food and Water: Continue to ration supplies until services are fully restored.
- Help Neighbors: Check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors.
- Shovel Safely: If shoveling, take breaks, lift with your legs, and avoid overexertion.
Key Entities:
- Snowstorm: A severe winter weather condition characterized by heavy snowfall, strong winds, and reduced visibility.
- Blizzard: A more extreme form of a snowstorm, defined by specific criteria of sustained wind speeds (35 mph or more), significant snow (falling or blowing), and very low visibility (less than 0.25 miles) lasting for at least three hours.
- Hypothermia: A medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it produces it, causing a dangerously low body temperature.
- Frostbite: Injury to body tissue caused by freezing, leading to loss of feeling and color in the affected areas.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-containing fuels (e.g., wood, coal, gasoline, natural gas, propane). It’s often called the “silent killer.”
- Great Blizzard of 1888: A historic, severe snowstorm that affected the northeastern United States in March 1888, causing widespread disruption and deaths.
- Blizzard of ’77: A major snowstorm that impacted the Great Lakes region in January 1977, known for its extreme cold and significant snowfall, particularly in Buffalo, New York.
- Emergency Kit: A collection of basic items a family or individual may need in the event of an emergency or disaster.
FAQ Section
Q1: How long can a person survive stranded in a car during a snowstorm?
Survival time varies greatly depending on factors like external temperature, the person’s clothing, health, and access to food/water. With proper preparation (warm clothing, blankets, emergency kit) and careful rationing of fuel for heat, a person can significantly extend their survival time, potentially for days. However, the most immediate danger is often carbon monoxide poisoning if the exhaust pipe is blocked.
Q2: What is the most important thing to remember if the power goes out during a snowstorm?
The most important thing is carbon monoxide safety. If using any alternative heating source (like a fireplace, gas heater, or generator), ensure proper ventilation and have a working carbon monoxide detector with fresh batteries. NEVER use outdoor heating equipment indoors.
Q3: Can I drink melted snow if I’m thirsty during a snowstorm?
Yes, you can drink melted snow, but it’s crucial to melt it first and preferably boil it if possible to kill any potential pathogens, as snow can contain impurities. Eating snow directly lowers your core body temperature and uses more energy for your body to warm it, which is counterproductive for staying warm.
Q4: How do I know if I’m getting hypothermia or frostbite?
- Hypothermia symptoms: Shivering (initially), confusion, slurred speech, drowsiness, memory loss, fumbling hands, exhaustion. Seek immediate warmth.
- Frostbite symptoms: Numbness, tingling, pain, aching, white or grayish-yellow skin, skin that feels unusually firm or waxy. Do NOT rub the affected area. Gently rewarm with body heat or warm (not hot) water. Seek medical attention.
Q5: Is it safe to use a propane heater inside my house during a power outage?
Only if it’s specifically designed and rated for indoor use and you have excellent ventilation and a working carbon monoxide detector. Most propane heaters are intended for outdoor or well-ventilated construction site use. Using an unvented propane heater indoors without proper precautions can lead to deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Always read manufacturer instructions carefully.
