Preparing for a Blizzard: What You Need to Know

Published: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 2:15PM

By Alannah Franks

At Instant Weather, we have been closely monitoring the system that brought significant snowfall and some freezing rain to a large portion of Southern Ontario between Wednesday afternoon and today. At this point, some areas have received in excess of 30 cm of snow with the winds increasing this morning and afternoon. Now that the winds have picked up, intense bands of snow squalls have developed off of Lake Huron and Environment Canada has issued Blizzard Warnings for parts of Bruce and Grey Counties with the possibility of more Warnings being issued throughout the day. Environment Canada issues these warnings when certain criteria are met: winds of 40 km/h or greater reducing visibility to 400 metres of less for at least 4 hours.

It is important to be prepared for these situations so we have put together a list of items you should have on hand in case of an emergency:

  • Flashlight (windup or battery operated)

  • Radio (windup or battery operated)

  • Extra batteries

  • Portable cell phone charger

  • Water (2 litres per person per day)

  • Non-perishable canned or dried food

  • Manual can opener

  • Blankets

  • Candles and matches or lighters

  • First aid kit and any prescriptions/medical items

  • List of emergency numbers

  • Cash

  • Gasoline

Not sure what kind of food to have ready? Dried food like rice and pasta along with canned tuna can go a long way. Other items such as bread and granola bars are good for fibre and non-refrigerated fruits like bananas, oranges and apples help break up the high-sodium content found in dried foods. On top of the previous list, it is wise to fill your tub or sink with water in case of a prolonged power outage so that toilets can still be used.

It is also important to have an emergency kit prepared in your car in case you were to ever become stranded during a blizzard. A few of the items are similar to a home emergency kit, but there are many notable additions. If you were to ever become stuck, a small trunk shovel as well as sand, salt, or kitty litter can help tires regain traction. If you are simply unable to move, road flares can draw attention to your location, as well as a whistle. It is imperative to not wander away, stay warm inside your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. One of the major causes of loss of life during winter weather events is people becoming lost and succumbing to hypothermia.

During a blizzard, it’s important to stay indoors and avoid any unnecessary travel. Road closures are common in these conditions in order to keep people off the roads. Further, we recommend not clogging up emergency lines with non-emergencies. Soon the storm will pass and then we will all have to begin digging ourselves out.