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Spring hasn’t quite sprung yet and summer will be upon us before we know it. There is plenty to look forward to—longer days, warmer weather, camp outs and barbecues, fishing, spring hunting season, and comfortable temperatures for shooting outdoors. Spring and summer come with faults, though. Weather can be dangerous. The erratic and scorching summer heat leads to illness, rolling blackouts and sunburns. In the next 30 days, I will post a new tip every day to help you prepare for the next six months.
A NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) severe winter weather alert states that much of the South and Southeast United States is under a winter weather warning. Remember, a warning means the weather event is already happening or will happen in the near future and residents should prepare now for bad weather. Through the rest of the week, a winter storm is blowing through most of the United States including the Northwest, Great Lakes and moving to the Eastern Seaboard, affecting the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, as well. Freezing rain and heavy snowfall is predicted for the Pacific Northwest and the Northern Rockies. Instead of relying on a government that might not be able to rescue you, be as prepared as you can for the following weeks as severe winter weather still befalls us.
Hypothermia – Knowing what to do if you, or someone you encounter, show signs of this coldblooded killer can mean the difference between life and death. Are you ready?
America is experiencing some of the worst winter weather it has had in four years, affecting millions of people from the Midwest to the East Coast. Hundreds of thousands of families have been without power for up to a week. Ice storms can be devastating, causing enough dangerous conditions to shut down entire cities. An ice storm is categorized by the accumulation of 0.25 inches of freezing rain—just enough to add 500 pounds of extra weight to power lines. Due to the extreme weight of ice, power lines, large trees, tree branches and utility poles can snap, causing blackouts that can last for weeks. Since road travel can be extremely treacherous during severe winter storms, it is best to prepare and stock up now before old man winter hits.
For 30 days, once a day, I have posted a how-to on prepping for severe winter weather. Breaking it up hopefully has made the task less onerous. After all winterizing a house can take more than one weekend and building an emergency kit for your car and home can take more than one paycheck. Some of you might have scoffed at some of the posts. Either way, I have attempted to cover all my bases from curing cabin fever to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning—universal concerns no matter what your region. On day 30, the final installment of “30 Days of Preparing for Severe Winter Weather,” I present to you all 29 posts.
There are very few chances us regular folks get to walk on water, so when ponds, lakes or rivers freeze over many take the opportunity to participate in fun activities such as ice skating, a friendly game of ice hockey, snowshoeing or ice fishing. But how do you know the ice is safe to walk over? There are a few general things to keep in mind when judging if frozen water is safe to walk over. Please remember, however, that ice is never 100 percent safe to walk on, so tread slowly, take every precaution you can and follow the following five rules of judging how safe ice is.
In January 2008, a Utah couple Thomas and Tamitha Garner, along with their dog Medusa, set out for a drive in a remote area of Southwest Utah to photograph wild horses in Modena Canyon. Before heading out, they alerted family members of their plans and stopped in Panaca, Nevada for gas and two boxes of granola bars. The couple ended up further down a road than they should have when a severe winter storm came through. Thomas says the snow got too high and he was unable to turn the truck around to get out. The Garner’s ordeal lasted 12 days. I want you to tell me; what did the Garners do right and what did the Garners do wrong?
Is snow safe to eat may sound like a ridiculous question, but it is a little more complicated than a simple answer yes or no.
Who hasn’t stuck their tongue out on a snowy day to catch a few fluffy snowflakes or broke an icicle off a tree and sucked on it? Appealing as snow looks—pristine, fluffy and like it would taste like whipped cream—it isn’t necessarily safe. Pollution and bacteria can mix with snow, even in remote mountainous regions. Though you should be more concerned with hypothermia rather than getting sick from eating contaminated snow, you can still use snow to hydrate yourself if caught ill prepared in a blizzard. However, you should melt snow first before eating it!
Though not a diagnosable condition, cabin fever is commonly used to describe the feelings of boredom, irritably, restlessness and claustrophobia one gets when cooped up inside for too long. Cabin fever may also come about if you spend too long in an isolated place—even you if you venture outside daily. It can also cause anxiety, excessive sleeping, anger, forgetfulness, anxiety, impatience, and stress. Severe winter weather can keep you from leaving the house. I will tell you that you need to add entertainment to your preparations to prevent and cure cabin fever.
There are quite a lot of adventurers out there—many who brave extreme temperatures to have an adventure of a lifetime. Like the 2,000 plus people who have successfully climbed Mount Everest. Others live in far Northern places— I’m looking at you, Alaska — where no one blinks an eye at minus freezing temperatures. When weather is going to be really nasty, for a while, wouldn’t you prefer to have the best winter-rated gear? Call it overkill or call it more comfortable, the following five products don’t come cheap, but you will be much better off than your neighbors.
