Number one rule on getting stranded in a snowstorm/blizzard...

[EarthFirst]

Do *not* leave your vehicle!

Call 9/11 and wait for assistance…

It may take awhile; however you’re safer inside your vehicle rather than exposed to the elements; even if you run out of fuel!

I just rescued a man walking down the highway after a vehicle breakdown who was not in good shape. He had only been walking a mile or so. It’s -10 with a windchill nearly -30 here; it would take no more than 15 minutes for exposure to set in.

Better yet; you’re safer at home!
Let the storm pass regardless of the significance of this weekend…

It’s wild out there; be safe!

[forgotmylogin]

1. We didn't get a lot of snow in St Louis...

So I went out to sweep the dry bit of snow off my car. The wind was howling and I didn't think I'd need to dig out gloves for a quick trip out.

I forgot my broom handle was METAL and my fingers nearly froze. Any longer than 8 minutes would have been intolerable.

[Gore1FL]

34. I'm in North County by UMSL

My elderly dog and I have been out a couple of times today. Both times I've had to pick him up and carry him in. We've been out less than 10 minutes both times combined. Since we've hit single-digits and sub zero, he quits being able to walk after the shortest of times outside.

[tblue37]

54. In this kind of weather, a person can get frostbite in 10 minutes!

[Ocelot II]

2. Also, if you are running the engine intermittently to stay warm,

and there is a lot of snow, be sure to check that it's not clogging the tailpipe. Keep a winter safety kit in your car, which includes jumper cables, a blanket, candles, matches and a coffee can or pot to melt snow for drinking water (don't eat snow, it will make you colder), a tow rope, a flashlight and extra batteries, a shovel, an ice scraper and a cell phone charger.

[calimary]

10. Ooooooh, good advice, especially about eating snow.

Hadn't even occurred to me, but it does make sense.

If you have to drive some distance, MAKE SURE your car is ready for it, and pack some supplies for yourself!

Call it a SELF "care package."

[FreeState]

13. I'd add never use the matches

Under the car, ever. If there is a gas leak you will be gone (grandfathers brother did this and passed).

[Ocelot II]

15. Yes, that would be very bad!

[ProfessorGAC]

17. Good Call!

If it's really cold there isn't enough heat to melt a good vent channel.

[Maraya1969]

35. May I make a plug for hybrid cars here. I've lost electric 2 times since I got my Prius

and both times I would go into the car because I could turn on the car and sit in the AC and after awhile, (I have no idea how long - 15-20 minutes?) the gas would kick in just to power the battery.

The only thing is I would open the garage door a bit so if I fell asleep and the car went into gas mode I wouldn't kill myself. If you have no electric I don't think you should worry about cracking a garage door a bit.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

36. Yes, Carbon Monoxide poisoning a real risk. Car kit great. Add a bag of grit for traction

Sometimes even a piece of cardboard or the shovel under a tire can help. Jam under the front of the tire so that wheel motion pulls it under and car goes over.

[ewagner]

38. Add to your winter survival kit...

Metal coffee can and a large candle. It will generate some heat to warm the passenger area of the car without a lot of exhaust.

[Niagara]

49. I"ll second this recommendation.

I keep a metal coffee can with a candle in both my vehicle and home. I keep the lid on the can as well and have it labeled as Emergency Winter Heat Kit so no one accidentally throws my survival items away.

[spooky3]

51. Cat litter works nt

[RockRaven]

3. Second most important rule is probably to make sure your exhaust pipe remains unobstructed.

Carbon monoxide is fucking deadly, and more sneaky-dangerous than people realize.

[EarthFirst]

6. 100%

Thanks for that extremely important point!

[Rebl2]

9. Yes definitely!

If going out in cold and or snowstorm be prepared. Blankets, water, food, small shovel. Full tank of gas. I am sure there is more, but brain is tired and can’t think of more.

[Larissa]

23. Don't even think

About running your car in a closed garage to keep warm or to charge your smart phone. As others here have noted, carbon monoxide is a silent, odorless killer. Also, be safe running generators. In the last article below two sisters were killed running a generator on their porch during Hurricane Sandy. Local fire departments can provide help in using these generators safely.

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/29/texas-carbon-monoxide-poisoning/

https://www.nj.com/mercer/2012/11/fume_deaths_highlight_the_stor.html

https://www.nj.com/news/2012/10/2_sisters_die_newark_carbon_mo.html

[Tetrachloride]

4. A scarf. Keep ears and nose warm. Dry socks.

Stay home is best. Soup,
tea, boil potatoes.

[ChazII]

5. k&R n/t

[old as dirt]

7. Stranded In Iowa

[progressoid]

27. +1 . I recently found out that's based on another song.

[Snarkoleptic]

8. if traveling is a must, please be sure to top off your gas tank

and bring along plenty of water water and protein snacks (nuts or similar).

[AllaN01Bear]

11. my sis always has a earthquake and evac pac in her car , including food ,

extra blankets , tire chains , etc

[SheltieLover]

12. Great advice!

Hunkered down here.

Ty for helping the guy walking!

[Cracklin Charlie]

14. Bless your heart.

Thanks for the reminder.

[littlewolf]

16. make sure the jacket is nylon

so it doesn't get wet and is down filled or similar
wool sweater.. wool socks ... they stay warm even wet
water proof boots with felt liner if possible
water ... jumper cables or a jump box .. flares
cell phone and charger ...
broom to sweep snow off windshield
blankets or sleeping bag

I carry kitty litter for traction

grew up in MI ... this was pretty standard

again stay home if you can ...

again keep tailpipe clear ... if you feel yourself getting sleepy
headache confused or if your hands or face start to show bright cherry red
these are signs of carbon monoxide posioning ...

[niyad]

20. In addition to your list, I always carried food, drink, candles, flashlights, chains, and

some books. Rotated out the food regularly.

Was thankful that, except for the chains, I never needed any of it.

[DURHAM D]

28. I realized a couple of days ago before this mess started that

I did not have any way to light a candle or sterno for fondue pot. Went to the store and got some matches and a lighter. I had everything else including a battery powered tv but that no lighter issue could have really tripped me up.

[niyad]

39. Exactly. I did not think about the matches because I always had them or a

lighter in my purse, as I was always around smokers who could were always running out.

[BMW2020RT]

18. Good advice.

I drove my wife to work. I also volunteered to work a few hours at a seasonal job near our home. I don't think the air temperature ever exceeded single digits in middle Tennessee. Even the short walk from our parked car to the store door was miserable.

[niyad]

19. Many years ago, was coming to Colorado Springs from Reno, in Feb. Because I

was used to mountain travel, had a full emergency kit, and was in a full length goose-down coat, moon boots, etc. Crossing into Utah, encountered the Arctic blast. It was so cold the engine never got warm. We were determinrd to krep driving, figuring we would never get the car started if we stopped. Even the truckers were stalled. Out there on the wide-open highway, about 2 in the morning, we encountered a hitchhiker. Not sure I believed his story, but we picked him up. I did not want a dead body on my conscience. Conditions were getting worse, and I finally said, we have to stop in the next town. There was a motel with vacant rooms, thank goodness. Never saw the young man again. But we made it into the Springs later that day.

Definitely not one of my fondest memories.

[Meadowoak]

21. I keep a scented jar candle, the smaller size that will fit in a cup holder

If you get stranded, you can light it for heat, also helps to be seen by snow plows and emergency vehicles that could get you help. Many of the rural roads I travel have little or no cell service.

[Desert_Leslie]

22. Sleeping Bag

Friends in Alaska always travel with a very warm (down in their case) sleeping bag in the car. Will keep them from freezing to death in a stalled car.

[3Hotdogs]

29. Thing is, that wasn't filmed in the Pine Barrens.

There is no terrain in the Pine Barrens that looks like in that episode. Maybe northwest N.J. or N.Y Catskills.

[niyad]

40. Many incidents in the Stephanie Plum mysteries by Janet Evanovich take

place in the Pine Barrens. Always sounded like one really strange place.

[niyad]

43. I think that you are correct.

[Rural_Progressive]

25. When I was a kid back in the 50s we had this drilled into our heads each winter

Farm in rural northeast Ohio, very cold, horrible lake effect whiteout blizzards, it would get "stupid cold"

Yep, that's what we were taught without anyone saying that mental confusion is one of the first indications of impending hypothermia. We were taught if anyone we were with started doing really stupid stuff or we realized we weren't able to do sums that it was time to get someplace warm because that meant we would be in real trouble soon if we didn't..

So if you get caught out and start to feel cold try doing simple addition, if you start having trouble then you are heading for trouble, get bundled up or find someway to get warm.

[Martin68]

26. Loke when you overturn your canoe in the middle of a large lake. Stay with the canoe!

[applegrove]

32. And if your car was getting covered, turnoff your motor so you won't

die of carbon monoxide poisoning. Always have a big fat candle and a lighter to keep yourself warm inside a car with the engine not running. And start up your car when you need to recharge your phone. Make sure the snow is not covering your tailpipe when the enginne is running. Always leave a cell phone recharger and cord in your glove compartment. If you don't have a cell phone, invest in a plastic banner you put in your back window that says call police in big letters.

[moniss]

33. Many years ago

a woman was driving home on a back road near where I worked. The weather was blizzard conditions with deadly wind chills. Her car got stuck in a drift and because she was only about a half mile from home she decided to walk. The police found her face down in the snow about an 1/8th of a mile from where she started struggling through the drifts. Rule of thumb for bad storms is if you are out and about when it comes through and are in a safe place then stay there. Do not risk your life on the idea that nothing will happen to your vehicle or that you can "handle" whatever happens.

[The Jungle 1]

37. The one thing my dad insisted on was...

a shovel. Most of the time you get stuck because you slid off the road. You can shovel yourself out. If you have a shovel.
Small pack with warm clothing and a shovel. Us old folks just need to stay home!
The last year I worked we had a storm while I was at work. I had to walk a mile up a hill to get home. I had 4 wheel drive but the hill was clogged with cars that did not make it up the hill. I told my boss that is it I will not come to work when it is going to snow. I was glad I had my clothing kit.

[onethatcares]

42. wool socks, thermal underwear(long jons)

a wool hat that's too large for your head to pull down and cover the back of your neck, mittens (wool or nylon with down fill) along with the clothes you have on that should keep your body warm and it folds down to a small package. Use a reusable shopping bag to keep it in.
As far as hardware, a candle or a hobo heater made of a roll of toilet paper stuffed in an unused quart paint can with lid and a bottle of 70% isopropryl alcohol and a pack of bic lighters will keep your interior of the vehicle warm.

Put the tp in the can, takes a little squeezing so do it before you need it, soak the tp with alcohol and light it. Be sure it's on a steady surface and meter out the usage. To turn it off put the lid on the top of the can for a minute or two.

[Rachel M at 6 pm]

44. Thank you! nt

[malthaussen]

45. And crack your window. CO is no fun. n/t

[Joinfortmill]

46. Amen

[Woodwizard]

47. I keep spare clothes and water in my vehicle year round.

Along with tools, a habit from when the vehicles I had were to most of the population ready for the scrapyard. Even new cars get stuck and do not count on the cellphone in my area.

I worked with a guy years ago that came to work and was asked to go shovel the walks around the building I had to loan him my spare coat, I asked what are you thinking not dressed for winter what if you break down? He said I have my cell phone, this was back in 2000.

[Wonder Why]

48. Nah! Read the weather report and then leave a day earlier or stay home.

[Niagara]

50. As we get older, the more frequent we need to use the restroom.

I would like to add that it's imperative to have a device to urinate with or a container to urinate in while being stranded.


Those wide mouth Gatorade bottles, wide mouth Core bottles or even a female urine funnel are absolutely necessary when nature calls.


Just don't be like Howard Hughes and keep your urine collection for who knows what reason.

[vsrazdem]

52. Per my mother-in-law who got stuck in a blizzard from Wisconsin driving to

Arizona, be sure to bring some baggies, which she had to use to relieve herself so she didn't have to get out of the car. LOL.

[DemocraticPatriot]

53. I have been happy to be "stranded" at home...

took me 2 days to dig out my driveway, but it was still snowing...

all I wanted to do was make it 200 yards to the 'Dollar General' which I can see from my front porch...
I thought about just walking, rather than dig out my car just yet-- but I did it and drove, lol


Merry Christmas all!