Ice storms, blizzards and other severe winter weather can force you to stay inside your home. Before the storm hits, be prepared to go without electricity for at least three days. You should not wait until the day before weathermen predict a severe winter storm. Get last minute emergency gear now, while it is still in stock. Following is a list of 15 items to get now.
Hot chocolate is not only yummy and comforting; it actually warms your up. You don’t have to forgo this delicious treat when the power goes out—severe winter weather is the perfect time to enjoy a mug of hot chocolate using a few ingredients from your long-term food storage and a gel fuel camp or survival stove. I whipped up my own ultra chocolaty version in about 20 minutes. Here is my favorite single-serving hot chocolate recipe using a Swiss military surplus gel fuel M1 stove kit.
A whiteout or blizzard can make driving conditions so hazardous that you voluntarily pull over to wait out the storm. The first thing you need to do is call for help if you find yourself trapped on the road during severe winter weather. Until help arrives, you will need to focus on staying safe, hydrated and warm. Pull your emergency vehicle kit out of the trunk or back seat and follow these 10 rules:
When roads are slick, it is highly probable you can run right off the road. Depending on how steep of an embankment or ditch you end up in, you might be able to get yourself out. Before attempting to get your car back on the road, call for help. Tie a brightly colored cloth, bandana or distress flag to your antenna so rescuers can see you. In an extreme circumstance, you can try to get your car back on the road. Follow these 10 tips:
If I had a dollar for every time I heard, “I can’t rack the slide. It’s too hard,” I’d probably have a condo in the Keys. In fact, when I started shooting, I thought I wasn’t able to operate all semi-automatic handguns either. Believe me, ladies; I understand your slide intimidation. However, have no fear! Regardless of what you may think, it is not your strength or lack thereof that enables you to rack a slide properly—it’s learning the correct technique.
Driving in snow and ice is treacherous. As a rule of thumb, if you can avoid going out—you should. Snow and ice can hit at any time, though and none of us wants to be stuck at work any longer than we have to be, so when driving in severe winter weather is unavoidable, follow these top 15 safety tips for driving in snow and ice.
We are little over a half way through our 30 days of preparing for severe winter weather. So far, you should be geared up and ready to face a blizzard on the roadways and a snow-in at home. If you have been following, you have winterized your home and car and both your house and vehicle are stocked with enough supplies to ride out a winter storm. So far all posts have merely skimmed the surface of prepping, each covering simply the basics. In the past, The Shooter’s Log has gone more in-depth in winter weather survival. Today, Day 18 is a good day to revisit the following past posts.
Entrenching tools or e-tools are an invaluable item to keep in your car during winter. These spade-like tools are good for moving dirt and snow and for loosening up hard earth. Originally designed for soldiers to dig their own trenches and foxholes and for use as a close quarter, back-up weapon, entrenching tools are distinguishable due to its spade and pickaxe combo appearance. Though not as effective as a full-sized shovel, especially for moving snow, an entrenching tool will still help out in a pinch.
Making a fire on the fly is tough already without snow and ice on the ground. I hope you never have to fend for yourself over night in a winter storm, but in case you must—knowing how to start a fire in wet and adverse conditions can save your life. First, get the basic fire building skills down. Since building a fire in wet weather is a bit more challenging, here are 10 tips to get a fire going in the snow.
Mortality rates increase by 15 percent in the winter over summer. Hypothermia, flu, pneumonia, falls, carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires all contribute to the higher rate during colder months. Elderly citizens are more at risk to suffer the consequences of winter weather. Even people as young as 60 years old are susceptible. Do you have elderly neighbors or family members without much support? The best thing you can do for them is make sure they are prepared for winter weather. Here is a checklist of things you can do for the elderly to keep them safe: