Blizzard Lessons Learned

[jedi]

So now that this "blizzard/ice storm" has passes & we have had time to reflect on it here is one for you.

I'm sure most of you have seen/read that hundreds were stuck on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago during the storm. 24+ hours for most with the majority of them not being prepared.

So what would you carry with you if this was you?

First some parameters to make this "a little hard".
Items you select must fit in a medium size ALICE pack system

 

[eldirector]

A) Don't live in Chicago
B) Don't get on Lakeshore Drive during a blizzard
C) Warm socks, peanuts, jerky, water, and my cell phone. The gloves, hat, scarf, boots, and sweater are probably already on me.

Some of these folks were stuck for 7+ hours. Seriously? Get out and walk a 1/4 mile to a pub.

Now, if this was like when folks got stuck on I-90 last year, then add some of those little chemical warmer packets, blanket, a bit more snacks,and a folding shovel (in the off chance you could clear a path to get moving again). Maybe a cell phone charger, so I can keep surfing INGO.

An ALICE pack can hold TONS of stuff. I don't think you really need much when stuck on a main road in a huge city.

 

[Andre46996]

Walk a block or two..

I like to think if it wasn't for the interference from local government that would have bee a wonderful natural selection process.

 

[LtScott14]

Call Mayor Daley and ask why the Emergency Management staff did nada till an accident caused a major backup, then all the vehicles were held up to the ensuing mess. Yes they bragged up the plows and city ordinances, and overtime pay for the workers, but did anyone see this besides the cops who arrived at an accident turning into a disaster? It took hours for this to happen, do they own barricades with light and stripes and "Road Closed" signs? People ran out of fuel, not dressed right, need bathroom, no food, no water, maybe they should read Survival and Preps internet sites. I bet a few will not be in the same mess in the future.

 

[singlesix]

Take a vacation day during a Blizzard and don't drive.

 

[Tactical Dave]

Personally I think if you live in areas that get dumped on like that from time to time then you should know better and have some supplies in the car so you can be comfortable if you get stuck for a day or so.

 

[browncofiddler]

Seriously, this really was an eye opener as to how pathetically unprepared most people are when something {I consider this lapse in power minor} happens. Our neighbor didn't have so much as fresh batteries for a flashlight or a battery operated {guess they would've been dead anyway} radio to listen for road/weather conditions. Their house is 100% electric, the wife is in her 80's, he is in his late 60's. They both profess to be strong conservatives, totally on top of world & domestic affairs but were in no way prepared for a little 24 hour power outage.

They had no heat, no hot water, no auxiliary heat source & couldn't figure out how to get the 3/4" of ice off of their Ford Escape so that they could at least go to Mickey D's for a burger & hot coffee. They refused to use our kerosene heater & Coleman 2 burner camp stove which we tried twice to loan to them. They said over & over that the power would come back on eventually. The overnight temp was supposed to be 4 degrees - we were really concerned about them - but they refused to help themselves. Will this attitude prevail in a REAL disaster?? I was really surprised that they wouldn't take us up on the offer to keep themselves warm & be able to at least boil water.

We found that none of our neighbors were prepared for this brief power outage. It was just a glimpse into the crystal ball as to what would happen during the real deal. None of them had a single oil lamp or extra food.

Here the Mid East is heating up to the boiling point - oil is $103/barrel - the Suez Canal hangs on by a thread - the world's oil supply is in jeopardy at the very least - governments are falling & it looks like the average Joe is clueless. It's boggling.

Kathy

 

[Blackhawk2001]

Wife & I talked to my best friend's wife down in Greenwood on Wednesday. He's off working out of state and we hadn't seen them in a month or two, so the wife was catching up with her. She didn't have as much as a flashlight working in the house, not much food, two small bottles of water. I was dreading having to drive all the way down there to pick up her and her son (and the dogs!) if they lost power. Fortunately, it didn't happen. Will she learn from this? Doubtful.

Because of the distance I drive to work everyday and because mine is the primary bugout vehicle, I have a pack with a winter tent and two heavy-duty sleeping bags in it for just such situations as occurred on Lake Shore Drive. If my son had not taken a day off work because he wasn't feeling well, he might very well have been stuck out there for that pileup. Fortunately, he could have walked to his apartment from there.

 

[jeremy]

Buy my Beer Earlier than the Day the Storm starts...

 

[melensdad]

So what would you carry with you if this was you?

Same stuff I always carry in the winter.

Spare snow boots, scarf, hat, insulated gloves. Some juice boxes and energy bars. Bottles of water - kept in an insulated cooler to PREVENT them from freezing while sitting in the car. Tow strap, jumper cables, large first aid kit. Flash light, glow sticks, chemical hand warmers.

 

[jedi]

Same stuff I always carry in the winter.

Spare snow boots, scarf, hat, insulated gloves. Some juice boxes and energy bars. Bottles of water - kept in an insulated cooler to PREVENT them from freezing while sitting in the car. Tow strap, jumper cables, large first aid kit. Flash light, glow sticks, chemical hand warmers.

Finally someone post some useful information!
This is the " Survival and Disaster Preparedness" channel where we should be posting and talking about this type of stuff to prepare not making comments about the sheep or other non-useful comments.

Go to the BREAK ROOM for that please!

Any more ideas? Or other list of what others carry?
I never thought about the insulated cooler for water. Then again carry my water "on" me most of the time.

 

[melensdad]

I never thought about the insulated cooler for water. Then again carry my water "on" me most of the time.

I typically have 4 water bottles in a small insulated cooler. More than I care to carry 'on' me at any given time. But the insulated cooler allows me to toss room temperature bottles of water in the cooler and toss the cooler into the car for several days of below freezing weather before it begins to ice up. Typically even in below freezing temps water exposed to the sun won't freeze during the day but it will freeze solid at night. The cooler helps by stabilizing the temperature swings. I forgot to mention, there is also a snack pack of tuna/crackers in that small insulated cooler too. Just like drinking frozen water, its hard to eat frozen food!

By the way, my medical kit is pretty extensive, not those little glove box kits, its big enough that it fills a medium size Rapala fishing tackle box.

I forgot to mention, I also keep an "avalanche" shovel in my car too. Its far more useful in the snow than those tiny military/glock type folding shovels. This is very similar to the shovel I have (same style, different brand) Ortovox Beast Shovel from Backcountry.com These shovels are very light weight, very strong, collapse down to a very small size, but are unfortunately fairly expensive. They are designed for back country skiing, snowmobiling, etc and can easily dig out a car.

The TOW STRAP is a year round item, as are things like a can of FIX A FLAT, Jumper Cables, etc. Depending on the car there may also be a small air compressor and some tire "Slime" as well as some other gear and tools.

My winter kit is different than what I have in the summer.

 

[jeremy]

I forgot to mention, I also keep an "avalanche" shovel in my car too. Its far more useful in the snow than those tiny military/glock type folding shovels. This is very similar to the shovel I have (same style, different brand) Ortovox Beast Shovel from Backcountry.com These shovels are very light weight, very strong, collapse down to a very small size, but are unfortunately fairly expensive. They are designed for back country skiing, snowmobiling, etc and can easily dig out a car.

Looks a lot like Grain Shovel...
Well it does have a really fancy handle on it...

 

[melensdad]

Looks a lot like Grain Shovel...
Well it does have a really fancy handle on it...

These are smaller, much smaller. They are also very light weight. The head of my shovel is about 10" by 10" and the shaft is about 18" long when in the retracted position. Easy to pack but far more useful than the typical military type fold shovels for digging out of snow.

I should point out these are worthless for digging in dirt! Its a winter only item.

While these (shown below) military shovels are better than nothing, they are pretty crappy for digging in the snow. I much prefer the "right tool" for the job.

 

[jamin]

I have all my stuff in the LAPG small gear bag. During the day I drive company van, in evenings my truck. I find it easier to move the bag then to have double of everything. I keep a spade shovel(breaks through ice nicely and don't feel like i have to lay on the ground like with a folding shovel) and snow shovel(takes nice big scoops) in the truck along with 5 gallon of diesel. Always there is 4" jerk strap, jumper cables, etc... Typically this time of year i always have my bibs on and heavy coat. Both vehicles do have a med kit at all times.

Contents of the bag:
2 bottles of water, cheese/peanut butter crackers, fruit bars, flashlight, extra batteries, hand warmers fuel ran, para cord, knife and multi tool, pistol with extra mags, spare pair of gloves and hat, handheld scanner(because it picks up NOAA).

I run service for heating and air company. Never know where you could end up or at what time you could end up there. Try to be as prepared as I can especially in the weather we have had lately.

Any suggestions of what I can add would be appreciated.

 

[melensdad]

Any suggestions of what I can add would be appreciated.

Spare boots and spare socks?

If you have to dig out anything you'll likely end up with wet pants, socks and cold feet. Having a pair of dry socks or a pair of dry insulated boots can make the difference between comfortable and miserable as you make your way home.

 

[Regionnus Rattis]

Hmmmm....probably carry my wallet, laptop and iPhone to find the nearest bar/hotel and say "honey, I ain't gonna make it home"

 

[melensdad]

Hmmmm....probably carry my wallet, laptop and iPhone to find the nearest bar/hotel and say "honey, I ain't gonna make it home"

Great, but what happens if you leave Valpo and get stuck? Head east an you have a lot of open ground. Ditto if you head south. Even west toward the Westfield Mall has a good deal of open ground and some deep ditches along the roadside where your car can end up, virtually unseen in a modest snow.

Its easy to make comments like you made but unless you simply stay in town and never venture out then you really are not thinking about some very real possibilities.

I drove up and down US41 today in Lake Country and several cars/trucks were off the road between Lowell and Cedar Lake. While they are only about 8 miles apart, and while a 4 mile walk is reasonable in the summer to get to either town if you break down in between them, in a modest snow that 4 miles can take a long time, in a heavy snow/blizzard that 4 miles can = death.

Oh, and in many rural areas the cell phone signal is pretty spotty. Best not rely on that as your savior.

 

[jedi]

While these (shown below) military shovels are better than nothing, they are pretty crappy for digging in the snow. I much prefer the "right tool" for the job.

I've used one of these before to help dig out a car from the snow. It was NOT fun! Moved up to a break down plastic shovel from Menards about $10 I think and it works much better. Similar to what you posted but of cheaper quality.

Still have the mil shovel however. Rather fond of it.

 

[Brandon]

5 dollar oil dry saved me. 10 bags of sand in the rear and still wouldnt get a bite. oil dry/kitty litter got me out!