Winter weather is no joke. The beautiful parts of winter sometimes eclipse the scary ones, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for any potential damage that may head your way this season.
You should be well aware of these winter SHTF scenarios so you know what to do in case of an emergency. Taking care of yourself and others can help you survive just about anything. The key is planning ahead and anticipating the worst yet hoping for the best.
1. Power Outage
A power outage is by far the most common SHTF scenario you may encounter. During winter storms — or even when the day is cold enough to sustain ice on power lines — you may find yourself without any electricity. This occurrence can be especially problematic if you don’t have an additional heat source in your home.
If this situation happens to you, conserve the batteries you can. Give your loved ones a heads up that you may not be able to reach them if your phone dies. Though it may be tempting to message everyone you love, you want to conserve your phone battery, as you don’t know when you’ll be able to charge it again.
The best way to keep your household comfortable in a power outage is to find another form of heat. Be wary of any carbon monoxide that may leak into your home. Consider purchasing a generator that can keep your power going long enough to charge your phones and cook your food.
You should also dress in layers. Keeping the heat close to your body is the best way to stay warm. If you can, add a waterproof layer on top of everything else. This kind of clothing can keep you dry, which can help you ward off the dangers of hypothermia.
2. Hypothermia
With cold weather comes the risk of conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite, which can prove quite deadly if left untreated. Hypothermia occurs when a body drops below the normal temperature so severely that it impacts their physical and mental abilities. Hypothermia is more likely to develop if a person is wet and doesn’t have the proper gear — that is, they aren’t staying warm enough.
If a person in your household develops hypothermia, make sure to keep them warm and dress them in layers if they aren’t already. Keep them fueled with the right food and liquids. If the hypothermia is severe enough, you may have to administer CPR or seek medical treatment.
The best way to minimize your risk of hypothermia and frostbite is to limit your time outside. If you have pets who live outdoors, bring them in if possible. If they are larger animals and cannot come indoors, do what you can to make them comfortable, whether that’s padding a stable with hay or throwing blankets over them. Whatever the case, make sure all animals have fresh water and ample food to wait out the weather.
If a winter storm is approaching, you can help yourself and your household stay safe by taking care of outdoor things before the storm. If you need to bring furniture or decorations into your garage, do so before the storm begins. Secure certain problem areas before the winter weather rolls in so you can minimize your time outside.
3. Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is nearly undetectable to the human eye. It’s a colorless, odorless gas that leads to poisoning, causing hundreds of deaths in the United States each year. Many carbon monoxide detectors sit next to smoke detectors, so you should pay the same attention to them as you do your smoke detectors.
Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous in the wintertime when people look for alternative heat sources. If your power goes out, you may turn to a gas stove or another appliance to keep you warm. Doing so could release carbon monoxide into your home that could poison your household.
If you have no alternative way to keep warm when the power goes out, choose to dress in layers and eat non-perishables you don’t need to cook. Alternatively, consider building a small fire and cooking over it if you can manage to be outside.
You must have a working carbon monoxide detector in your house. Check it regularly, and change the batteries whenever you notice they’ve gone bad. Your detector may be the one thing standing between you and several unpleasant symptoms, or even death.
4. Evacuation
When conditions are poor, you may need to make a decision. Is it safer for you to wait out a potential storm where you’re at, or should you evacuate ahead of time? While it might be a tough decision, make sure to weigh the pros and cons of staying and going. You may need to make this decision in a hurry, so do whatever you can to prepare ahead of time if you decide to leave.
To prepare yourself for evacuation, fill a bag with everything you need and have it at the door or some other easily-accessible place so you can grab it in a hurry. You should also aim to have your car ready to drive before you leave. Knowing that your vehicle runs smoothly and all your needs are met will ease your mind.
If conditions improve after a storm and you’re still convinced that you want to leave, do so carefully. Be wary of black ice on the roads, when ice is nearly invisible but can cause a nasty wreck. The best plan of action is to anticipate where you’ll see black ice most, such as areas of the road without sunlight, and plan accordingly.
5. Blizzard
In a blizzard, you may have a combination of many things on this list. Cold weather, high winds, power outages, and massive quantities of snow all threaten to keep you holed up inside your house. Blizzards are one of the most dangerous winter scenarios, and you should learn how to survive them. If you can handle an intense blizzard, you can survive everything else on this list.
The best way to prepare for a blizzard is to watch the weather and respond accordingly. Look at safe, alternative heat sources in preparation for the power going out. Stock up on kindling and the canned goods you need. It’s best to look for food that you don’t need to cook or refrigerate — this way, you can avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and having to rely on power to eat. Stock up on blankets, and keep extra clothing layers somewhere you can easily access them.
While you can’t control the weather, you can manage your response to it. Until you lose power, keep checking the weather. Make a communication game plan for both those in your household and loved ones far away to let them know that you’re alright. With enough preparation, you can weather the storm without any issues.
6. Tornado
Tornadoes are now more common in winter due to the warming climate, leaving you with another disaster to worry about in the winter. Tornadoes can be especially deadly since they can pick up heavy objects or structures and hurl them. Every state has had an issue with tornadoes, so nobody is in the clear. Even if you think a tornado in your area is unlikely, even in the winter, consider preparing as if one might come anyway.
When in doubt, evacuate. If you aren’t sure whether your home can handle a tornado, board up what you can, take your household and precious belongings, and move out of the path of the storm. Make sure you plan for somewhere safe to go, whether it’s a hotel or a loved one’s residence.
Some tornadoes may be weak enough to allow you to stay in your home, but keep in mind that you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. As the storm passes through, keep the people and animals in your home away from doors and windows and close to the ground.
7. Snowed In
In northern areas, you may receive much more snow than you expected. This densely packed snow might be beautiful, but it can be dangerous, as it may prevent you from leaving your house. As long as you have power, you might not see an issue. If temperatures stay below freezing, though, you may be trapped in your house for days unless someone can shovel you out.
As such, you need to prepare accordingly. Stock up your pantry with staples and consider foods you can eat both with and without power. Find layers of things like blankets, comforters, and clothes that you can add to beds and people. Unfortunately, waiting it out is the best thing that you can do in this situation. Try to keep your family warm, dry, and taken care of until you can leave your home again.
As soon as you can break free of your home, do it. Storms usually tend to pick up and grow worse and more deadly after their initial sweep. Find somewhere warm and safe, no matter how far that destination may be. If you shovel your driveway, consider shoveling your neighbors’ as long as it’s safe to do so.
8. Excessive Hail
Hail is the most dangerous form of precipitation in the winter. Rain can make roads slick and freeze into ice, and snow can pile up and make it hard to navigate or leave your home. Among these forms of precipitation, hail tends to be the scariest. Depending on its size, it can be just a nuisance or potentially damage your home and car.
If you still have access to a radio or television, consider keeping it on the news to hear about the condition of hail and whether it’s worsening. Garages are the best places for your cars. If you don’t have a garage, aim to cover your vehicle as best you can. If the hail is larger than a golf ball, you may see damage to your windshield and other areas of your car.
If you’re caught outside in a hailstorm, you should move to a sturdy structure as soon as possible. Temporarily sheltering under something strong like a highway overpass can keep you out of the hail’s way for a time. In other circumstances, stay inside and don’t risk injuring yourself by leaving.
9. Freezing Weather
Temperatures below freezing might not seem scary at first, but they can do a number on any unsuspecting victim. Freezing temperatures can lead to all sorts of negative consequences, such as plants freezing and dying and people contracting illnesses. Monitor the outside temperature with an outdoor thermometer, but make sure you don’t let cold air seep into your home.
One way to protect your family is to winterize your home properly. If you notice that any weather stripping is rotten or old, consider replacing it. Filling in any gaps in your home will also save you money on your energy bill. If you don’t have caulk or weather stripping to fill the gaps, consider padding them with old blankets and comforters to keep the chill out.
Any home that hasn’t been evaluated for 30 or more years should have someone check its insulation. Insulating every area of your home is a must to keep the cold winter weather at bay. You may even consider insulating your crawl space or attic, as you can lose ample energy through empty, unfinished space; iFoam might be a good solution for some homes. Winterizing your home means keeping it energy-efficient, thereby saving you money in the long run as you strive to heat your home.
Additionally, you should have a professional check on your furnace and any other appliances that haven’t been used since the previous winter. House fires are most prevalent in the winter, no doubt because people don’t know how to use furnaces or risk using them without a proper inspection. Responsibly check into your furnace and other heating equipment before you need it so that you won’t be left to make a risky choice that could harm your family.
Be Prepared When SHTF
Disaster preparedness is a fantastic skill to have, particularly in the winter when circumstances can become unpredictable rather quickly. By knowing the conditions you’re up against and having a plan for when they happen, you’ve already won half the battle.
Facing these disaster scenarios might be jarring and scary, but once you make it out safe due to your excellent preparation, you’ll know what to change and what to do differently the next time.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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