Joey is at it again getting in all kinds of trouble. This time he has to brace himself as winter is coming. Yeah, yeah I know. That’s an old meme but a winter storm is really coming and we all have to be ready for it.
We’ll tackle a certain scenario in which Joey is far from the comforts of his home with a winter storm fast approaching. Poor little Joey is stranded outdoors as the storm is about to hit. So what would Joey do to survive?
Preparing for a winter storm is not all about wearing warm clothes and turning the heater up. There are other things you need to do before the storm hits. When you’re at home it’s pretty easy to prepare for a winter storm but when you are out in the middle of nowhere when the storm suddenly decides to rain on your parade, things may go from bad to worse very quick.
Keep Calm
The most important factors in surviving a winter storm when you’re stranded outdoors are to keep calm and act fast. Once your car breaks down, for example, you have a limited window to prepare yourself for the cold that’s about to make you wish you were sunbathing in Brazil.
The moment you realize you’re not going anywhere, don’t go into a panic attack. Take deep breaths and survey the situation. First, call for help. Contact your loved ones and the authorities to inform them of your predicament. You must pinpoint your exact location so it will be easier to spot you. Remember, your tracks and possibly your whole car will be covered by snow. Knowing where to look will keep your chances of being rescued high.
Car Emergency Kit
Another important aspect of surviving any emergency situation is to be prepared. Your car should be equipped with an emergency kit. Aside from your car tools and other items necessary to keep your vehicle going, you should also have survival gear and supplies.
Make sure your emergency kit contains items that will help you survive the cold. These include waterproof matches, lighters, a fire starter, and tinder for starting a fire. You also need a thermal blanket, wool blanket, poncho, gloves, beanie, and extra set of clothes to keep you warm.
Other stuff that could help you survive are a multi-tool, knife, hatchet, paracord, duct tape, compass, emergency whistle, signal mirror, light stick, food and water, and a first aid kit, among other things. During winter time you must keep a snow shovel in your car. You should also have a folding shovel. This will come in pretty handy as you’ll see later.
Shelter
If you have a car, you already have a shelter that will help protect you from the winter storm. Cover the interior of your car with thermal blankets for insulation.
If you don’t have blankets, tear the car seat apart and use the cushion for insulation.
Snow Cave
In case you don’t have a car, you need to find or build a shelter fast. There may be caves near you. If there are none, make one. Find a spot with the best possible snow depth and consistency. Basically, it’s a spot where the wind built up the snow.
The next step is something Joey would have no problems doing. Dig a bell-shaped hollow space through the snow bank. The bell shape is structurally strong so your DIY snow cave will not cave in on you. It also keeps the heat inside, which is vital to surviving a winter storm. Start digging as low as you can before hollowing up.
Tree Well Shelter
If the first two shelter options are not available, you can build a tree pit instead. Look for areas with deep snow and evergreen trees or low-hanging boughs. You may likely find pockets of space, which you can use to your advantage. Start digging down to ground level slowly and meticulously. If you rush the digging, you risk snow falling into your hole.
Once you reach ground level, cover it with evergreen boughs. You also want to compact the walls of your tree pit. Cover the opening of your tree well shelter with more evergreen boughs. Make sure you’re inside the pit before covering it.
Quinzee
A quinzee may not be ideal in an emergency situation in which you have to act fast. However, if you have lots of time before the winter storms wreaks havoc, you might as well and build one. Here’s how.
Start A Fire
One of your first tasks before the winter storm comes should be to start a fire. In 2013, James Glanton kept his family alive after their Jeep Wrangler flipped and fell down an embankment. Glanton built a fire near their toppled vehicle and used it to heat rocks. He then brought the hot rocks inside the Wrangler to keep everyone warm. That in itself is a prime example of survival skills and know-how being put to good use. The family was also fortunate to have told people where they were going and to have packed winter clothing, food and water.
This survival story proves you can build fire in snow. To do so, you must first find a spot that is safe from wind and water. Avoid starting a fire under snow-covered tree. The heat from your fire will soften or melt the snow in the tree and fall on you and your fire. If you must, shake the tree first for the snow to fall.
Next, clear the actual spot of snow. You can also just stomp on the snow to make it more compact. However, you need to create a drain for the melted snow to flow. Gather stones and firewood. Arrange the stones to make a floor of some sort. Leave a small space in between stones. These will act as channels for water to run off. Clear another spot and make a stone floor near the first one. This is where you’ll pile your firewood.
Start a fire on the first structure using tinder and your matches or fire starter. You can also use fire accelerants such as cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly. You should have some in your emergency kit. Add kindling and fuel as the fire builds. Place rocks in the fire then use them to heat your shelter.
Pay The Gentleman Pirate a visit to see more survival tips you could use during the cold season. If you have more tips you want to share? Feel free to comment below!
Up Next: Surviving An Avalanche
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