Winter Storm Prep

[texaslover]

Here in TX it's supposed to be in the 20's on Monday all day and stay below freezing most of the week. Forecast is still iffy about precipitation starting Wednesday. If we get any things will shut down for a few days. I expect to grab a few groceries like cereal and soup today or tomorrow just in case we are stuck in the house. The stores will probably be a madhouse by Tuesday if the forecast turns worse.

 

[_19disnA]

I think how to prepare for any storm/natural disaster is mostly based on where you live and what exactly you are preparing for, it isn't a one size fits all solution. If you live in Florida and expect a hurricane where you might have to evacuate due to flooding, then stockpiling a huge amount of bulky items won't do you much good if they can't all fit in your vehicle when leaving.

Ice storms can knock out power, so your plans would likely relate with how to deal with that. Portable generators will only power some of your house, so you need to prioritize what is most important. Is the generator in good working order and do you have enough fuel to keep it running and for how long?

Areas that regularly get a lot of snow likely already have the necessary means to deal with that and the amount of disruption won't be as great as somewhere that rarely gets snow and is less equipped for it. If you live in some rural area and are 25+ miles from the nearest stores, then you plans will also be different from someone who doesn't live nearly as far away from places to shop.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think how to prepare for any storm/natural disaster is mostly based on where you live and what exactly you are preparing for, it isn't a one size fits all solution. If you live in Florida and expect a hurricane where you might have to evacuate due to flooding, then stockpiling a huge amount of bulky items won't do you much good if they can't all fit in your vehicle when leaving.

Ice storms can knock out power, so your plans would likely relate with how to deal with that. Portable generators will only power some of your house, so you need to prioritize what is most important. Is the generator in good working order and do you have enough fuel to keep it running and for how long?

Areas that regularly get a lot of snow likely already have the necessary means to deal with that and the amount of disruption won't be as great as somewhere that rarely gets snow and is less equipped for it. If you live in some rural area and are 25+ miles from the nearest stores, then you plans will also be different from someone who doesn't live nearly as far away from places to shop.

I disagree. There are SOME cross over tips.

We're in the path of the upcoming storm, but on the snow/ice line. So we can get a mixture of snow/ice or just ice. The amount of each can vary with the track of the storm.

So, we have the following possibilities...
* No effect. Maybe some slick road, but nothing major. In which case, situation normal. This would be similar to a hurricane headed to Florida that moves and doesn't hit an area at all.
* Minor effect. Snow/ice that makes travel hazardous. But we retain power. A hurricane that the outer bands "graze".
* Moderate effect. Snow/ice that makes travel all but impossible. Maybe the power goes out for a couple of hours, so can work, cook, browse the internet, etc. Slightly more inside the hurricane.
* Extreme effect. Loss of power, possibly for days if not weeks. Can't travel once the storm hits until the streets are clear. Possible home damage. Hurricane makes a direct hit.

The "one size fits all" is when you plan for the moderate to extreme effect and plan to just "ride it out". Not everyone evacuates for a hurricane and not everyone will leave before this storm.

It doesn't matter how far from the stores you are if A) you can't travel and B) the store doesn't open because the workers can't get there or it's out of power.

So, you stock up on food/drink because you don't know when you'll be able to resupply.
You have some kind of plan to stay warm in case power goes out for a while. (Side note: this is where DW and I are struggling. At least our house is well insulated).

Portable generators were still available to purchase yesterday. But that's (IMO) a major "insurance" cost. You need the cost of the generator, cost of gas, extension cords to run power to places (if you don't already have a transfer switch system), and you may not need it. So after the storm, you need to run the generator regularly, find somewhere to keep the gas (and hope it doesn't go bad before you need it).

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Yep we are "in the line of fire", I am hoping it won't be too bad. We have plenty of food and drinks. I am charging up everything I can in case the power goes out for a while.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

No need for this, if it's cold enough out for an ice storm, just put perishables outside! Have a cooler ready to go. Other ideas are good!

Just make sure that whatever you put out is not in the sunshine. We did that once. Put food on our back balcony. Full sun the next day. Even though it was cold, the sun started to defrost some things. All went out. Lesson learned.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

If you have room, freeze gallons of water. That way your freezer is full and will stay longer.

Take a margarine container and freeze water in it. Place a coin on top and put that in your freezer. If you find the coin on the bottom, you will know that the water melt and refroze.

 

[sam_gordon]

Some shoveling tips if people aren't used to it...

1) Spray cooking spray or WD40 on your shovel blade before starting. This will help the snow slide off the shovel.
2) When a lot of snow is expected, don't wait until it's done to shovel. It's easier to lift/push 3" of snow twice than 6" of snow once, ESPECIALLY if it's a "heavy" snow. Yes, your driveway might be covered back up by the time you finish, but it will be better in the long run.

 

[texaslover]

My favorite online meteorologist just updated his forecast to a chance of 6 inches of snow in north Texas starting Thursday morning. The cold front came through this morning and it went from 65 degrees to 42 at the moment. Supposed to be 24 degrees by morning!

 

[sam_gordon]

We're sitting at about 4 1/2" of snow in the last 4 hours. I've shoveled the drive once. It's already covered again. At least it's a "light" snow. Worried about the forecasted ice. I do a have GoPro doing a time lapse out one of the windows. I'm going to wait until dark and put it together.

We are almost at the bottom of a hill in our neighborhood. Watched a work truck (pick up) not be able to get up the hill. They now have a tow truck to try and help them.

 

[Christine]

DC area here--projections up to 8 inches (much more in some areas). Stores have been wacko all weekend. For some reason, most people head to Costco and stand outside...not sure why because there are reports they are just decimated but all the other smaller grocery stores are fine.

Our area does terrible with snow and this is cold enough to be around for awhile. I feel like I won't get out of the house until Wednesday.

 

[sam_gordon]

We are almost at the bottom of a hill in our neighborhood. Watched a work truck (pick up) not be able to get up the hill. They now have a tow truck to try and help them.

The work truck called a tow truck.
The tow truck got stuck.
Tow truck called another tow truck.
New tow truck driver found work truck hadn't "locked the hubs" to go into four-wheel drive mode. Once that was done, work truck got up the hill.
2nd Tow truck had to put down 200' of cable (stayed at the top of the hill) and eventually was able to pull 1st tow truck out.

Just in case anyone was wondering. But hey, it provided about 2 hours of entertainment for me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

DC area here--projections up to 8 inches (much more in some areas). Stores have been wacko all weekend. For some reason, most people head to Costco and stand outside...not sure why because there are reports they are just decimated but all the other smaller grocery stores are fine.

Our area does terrible with snow and this is cold enough to be around for awhile. I feel like I won't get out of the house until Wednesday.

Around here the store being talked about being cleared out is Aldi interestingly enough

 

[TwoMisfits]

Around here the store being talked about being cleared out is Aldi interestingly enough

Our Aldi also gets completely cleared out b/c they have the best prices on bread, eggs, bananas, and milk, which are the 4 things folks run out to stock up on here...

Funny enough, they don't have the best prices on meat and seafood, but folks only seem to worry about french toast fixings in storms...

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our Aldi also gets completely cleared out b/c they have the best prices on bread, eggs, bananas, and milk, which are the 4 things folks run out to stock up on here...

Funny enough, they don't have the best prices on meat and seafood, but folks only seem to worry about french toast fixings in storms...

In the past I don't remember hearing specifically about Aldi but that has come up with this storm repeatedly in various locations around the metro that's what is surprising, not really other stores being spoken about although I'm sure there are parts of the stores that have been picked clean. Walmart actually is very competitive with Aldi including on the products you mentioned. Milk is competitive with Walmart having their own dairy farms, it's cheaper at Walmart for the Great Value brand. We actually have an Aldi distribution center up the road from my house. It's just a strange one for that to be mentioned so frequently by people located all over the metro for this storm but not hear as much about the other stores which usually get mentioned.

Even my DISer friend today went to an Aldi by here within the last 2 days mentioned to us "walked into Aldi and a total stranger on his way out was like good luck it’s crazy in there"

You're right about types of food although I haven't heard about bananas here being the norm. The bread is good to have, the bananas will last for a few days at least but the eggs and milk aren't ones I'd rely on buying but you're right people do stock up on them for sure.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yeah, around here only 3 things are usual for winter storm prep: bread, milk, and melting salt. I did have to go to an extra store to get the salt; there was none left where DH stopped for the bread and milk, LOL. (Seriously, he just happened to be going grocery shopping; discovered when he got there that the bread/milk frenzy had begun.)

The worst winter storm we've had in the 35 years I've lived here was a severe ice storm that left us in frozen sleet up to our hubcaps; any car not parked in a garage was frozen in place. (I was able to get out the second day because I drove a stick shift then and could rock it, but DH's car stayed put for nearly a week.)
Even then, we didn't lose power at all. Folks here just don't tend to equate winter weather with power outages, though it can stay very cold for long periods. We just very seldom get snow or ice that sticks past a couple of days.

PS: a local emergency manager who must not have grown up around here cautioned on the news that people needed to stock up on flashlight batteries and firewood, not just bread and milk, because "if the power goes out you'll have more to worry about than sandwiches and cereal". Apparently he didn't get the memo that the point of buying bread and milk is actually the ceremonial making of the Snow Day French Toast.

 

[jo-jo]

We are on town water and sewage so I don't worry so much, but if you have a well, fill your tub with water so you can flush, in case there is an issue with your generator. Also, when snow's coming, we make sure the grill is under the overhang of the house and that the propane is filled. We don't have a generator, and it gets ugly around here if there is no coffee in the morning!

We also have town water but when the temps get and stay much colder that usual, I will put 3 or 4 five gallon pails in tub and fill. There have been a few times (like every 5-10 years) that due to ground frozen/shifting, age underground pipes break. But not for just a standard 4-6 inches of snow with temps in the high 20s-low 30s.

 

[Christine]

Well, had the first shovel of the day at around 7:30AM. Got about 7 inches up off the driveway. This will be round one as it's supposed to snow until this evening.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We ended up with 12 inches of snow and countless rounds of using the snow blower to keep up with it.

This was the layer of ice underneath the snow that came first

 

[weewuvvdisney]

Some shoveling tips if people aren't used to it...

1) Spray cooking spray or WD40 on your shovel blade before starting. This will help the snow slide off the shovel.
2) When a lot of snow is expected, don't wait until it's done to shovel. It's easier to lift/push 3" of snow twice than 6" of snow once, ESPECIALLY if it's a "heavy" snow. Yes, your driveway might be covered back up by the time you finish, but it will be better in the long run.

We live in the city but don't have a car. Thank goodness. When the snow hits, everyone goes out to clean off their cars. Then the plows come by and the cars are then plowed in with knee deep heavy snow. Back out with the shovels. Now out City has bike paths and there is less parking but just as many cars. When they remove the snow from the streets, it's crazy with everyone trying to find a spot. Considering they remove the snow from one side of every street in our area, there is absolutely no where to park. They have opened up a few parking lots that are not really in our district. As I saw, go park your car there and take an Uber home.

Never thought of using a product to have the snow slip off the shovel. Will have to try to. We don't get as much snow as we used to. We seem to get more freezing rain/ice. I much prefer the snow.

 

[sam_gordon]

We live in the city but don't have a car. Thank goodness. When the snow hits, everyone goes out to clean off their cars. Then the plows come by and the cars are then plowed in with knee deep heavy snow. Back out with the shovels. Now out City has bike paths and there is less parking but just as many cars. When they remove the snow from the streets, it's crazy with everyone trying to find a spot. Considering they remove the snow from one side of every street in our area, there is absolutely no where to park. They have opened up a few parking lots that are not really in our district. As I saw, go park your car there and take an Uber home.

Never thought of using a product to have the snow slip off the shovel. Will have to try to. We don't get as much snow as we used to. We seem to get more freezing rain/ice. I much prefer the snow.

Yea, plows are a necessary evil. I remember when I was growing up, we'd shovel the drive, but when the plow comes through, it would put a pile of snow across the bottom of the drive that would need to be re-cleared.

I also remember building "snow caves" out of the piles at the corners of the drive way though. lol Ah, to be a kid again.