Brrr, it's Cold Out Here...There Must Be A Giant Winter Storm About to Hit Most of the US: Here's What to Do to Get Through

Winter's beautiful, but also brutal. Photo: Marielle Bokor

Ok, y’all. There’s a storm coming,and chances are it’s going to hit a healthy portion of the US. And while gale force winds, snow and ice are just a regular Wednesday here in the Midwest, we know that’s not the case for everyone.

And to be honest, we in the Midwest know that you should always take these things seriously. Better to have a full pantry and no snow than no way to get to the store with no cat food and your pets are eyeballing you like a freshly roasted turkey.

So, in case you didn’t know, or maybe if you just want to run down a quick checklist, here’s some things to have on hand to not only keep you safe, but fed and entertained, too.

Don’t Panic, Do Take Stock:

There's a full stairwell and a car in this picture. Things can escalate quickly in a winter storm. Photo: Marielle Bokor

We learned what happened when everyone panic buys toilet paper, milk and eggs during COVID. Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to the grocery store. You probably should. Because the reality of this storm is such that you could be without power, and you could be in a situation where walking to a store or driving would be too treacherous to attempt.

What to look for: Make sure you have first aid essentials. Make sure there’s basics, but also make sure you’ve got food you can eat without the ability to microwave or otherwise cook it. Think crackers and cheese, Spaghettios, Pop Tarts - etc, etc. It’s not going to seem necessary until it is, but trust us, those strawberry pop-tarts are a godsend when your power’s out and you’re starving.

Prep the House, Prep the Car

You think you can drive out, but the reality is - sometimes you can't even get out of your parking place. Photo: Marielle Bokor

We all like to think the storm’s no big deal, overhyped, whatever. And you know what? You might be right. But if the storm hits the way  they say it might, you could encounter downed power lines due to ice accumulation, accidents out on the road, impassable areas, etc. 

Making your way anywhere in waist deep snow is a feat. Staying dry and warm is key to survival. Photo: Marielle Bokor

Find blankets, water and food. Make sure your car and home are stocked with them. Beyond the basics, think about first aid for the car, tire chains where needed, any of those cool tire inflation/jump start things, and scrapers. Gloves, hats, coats. The reality is, when weather like this hits, if you get stranded, even if you’re not far from home, it can take emergency services additional time to reach you, and hoofing it to the nearest town will be that much harder. 

You need phone chargers. More of them than you think. Power banks and weather radios, too. Especially with the projected ice accumulation, you can count on some places not having power for hours to days, maybe longer.

For your house? Plastic over windows, blackout curtains, heck - those little snakes you can make to cut out the draft under doors - all are clutch in the event of windchills like some of us are scheduled to see.  If you’re somewhere like that, or somewhere it’s going to get below freezing at all, also, don’t forget to run a continuous trickle of water in your pipes so that they don’t burst, or wrap them. 

Candles are great, and flashlights, but oil lamps are even better.

Nothing you can do about exploding trees, though. 

Embrace the Winter Vibes

It's really very pretty. Photo: Marielle Bokor

Once you’ve got safety down, it’s time to take it that next step further and really embrace the slowdown life is naturally bringing your way. 

Learn the concept of hygge. It’s a Danish concept built around warmth and coziness. Once you've got the essentials down, you can find things that'll make weathering the storm a lot more fun. Yes, you heard me. Now's the time to set up cozy reading corners full of books, blankets, and places to put warm drinks.

Now's the time to have an electric kettle on standby , or if you don't have electricity, a standard kettle. Apple cider, tea, coffee and cocoa are the things to grab here.

Bake. It warms up the house when it's frigid out, and you get treats! This is a fantastic time to see what you can mix up, from bread, to pancakes and cookies.

Get out your art supplies - coloring books, crafts, etc.

Pull out old gaming consoles -especially ones that run on batteries like Game Boy or Game Gear.

Bust out the board games - all three of these ideas don't even require electricity, and can bust boredom if and when your internet goes down.

Find your comfiest, warmest clothes and make sure they're on standby.

And, if you're in the right place with the right people, embrace the snuggle. Build a blanket fort for your Netflix bingeing and never come out of your fuzzy fleece world.

The bottom line: Don't go out unless you have to, and prepare for emergencies if you do. Make sure people know where you are, and don't think you're smarter than below zero windchills, ice accumulations of up to an inch, and several feet of snow, because the truth is, a storm system like this is to be respected, and it doesn't ask, it demands it.

Be safe out there, and we'll see you on the other side.