Humor can be relative...

Received the following e-mail message recently in my inbox recently (sorry that I don't know the original source, but thanks, whoever you are) :

The Government has issued a travel warning due to the cold weather.


They suggest that anyone travelling in the current icy conditions should make sure they have the following:

Shovel
Blankets or sleeping bag
Extra clothing including hat and gloves
24 hours worth of food
De-Icer
Rock Salt
Flashlight with spare batteries
Road Flares or Reflective Triangles
Empty gas Can
First Aid Kit
Booster cables


I looked like an idiot on the bus this morning!

End of e-mail

Ok, I thought this was pretty clever when I saw it. Here's the thing--with the weather in Illinois, many people had problems (whether they were in a bus or in their cars) last night and this morning, and I bet they wouldn't find the thought of having extra supplies with them in their situation very amusing. You can read about it here. Just something to think about--during cold, wintry weather (or any weather, really) you might want to think about packing a little something along with you if there's any possibility you might find yourself stranded--in a car, bus, or wherever you may be...

Gotta love snowbibs for $3.50

I just got back from Wal-Mart, and they are having a great deal on snowbibs and coats. We're talking $3.50 or $3.75 for the snowsuits (the cashier thought it was weird that they were ringing up different prices, but I'm not going to complain when the original price was $15.00.) There were a variety of coats for $13.00 each. So if you want to put some clothes away for the future, or just replace something now, you might want to check out your local Wal-Mart and see if it is having the same deals. The one near us has this sale for today, tomorrow, and Sunday, but at these prices, don't know how long they'll last, or how long you will be able to find the sizes you want/need. I know, that sounds like a commercial, but hey, like I've said before, if someone gives me a good deal, I don't mind giving them a little free advertising... :)

Thing is, I might not have noticed this had it not been for a cashier who mentioned to me earlier this week that the snowbibs that we could see against the wall in the distance were going on sale today for $3.50. They were closer to the exit that I don't frequently use, so I may have missed out entirely. Then, this morning, I thought, "Wow, it's Friday already!" Then later I thought, "Wow, I should have already blogged about this!" So now I have, and it's only Friday morning, so hopefully that will be enough time for everyone. Thanks, friendly cashier, for the great customer service! If you want to take advantage of the sale, I hope it's happening near you--never hurts to call if you're not sure.....

It's cold outside. (Understatement)

I don't know about where you live, but in our region lately, we've been in the midst of a very, very, very cold snap. We're talking O to the teens in terms of actual temperature, and then somewhere way down below zero when it comes to the windchill. This morning it was 20 below with the windchill factor, and it probably won't get all that much warmer today, but one can hope.... :)

What if you got stuck out in the cold? Are you prepared for an emergency of this nature? What's in your car? In this video, there is a report about some scouts who survived being stranded in the cold, and some tips from someone with experience about what you should have in your car. One of the interesting points he makes is that it doesn't have to be extreme temperatures to create an emergency in terms of the cold. It can be a problem at temperatures way above what we are currently experiencing. In fact, I think his words are, "You can freeze to death at any temperature."

Emergencies happen unexpectedly--but being ready all the time can make all the difference....

Snow, snow, and oh, more snow....

...at least if you are in the areas mentioned here, which is actually kind of a large section of Idaho. While the linked article is specific to Idaho, the tips from the National Weather Service mentioned here could be useful to everyone who could find themselves dealing with winter weather.

Wherever you are, stay safe out there....

It's still cold outside...

Was pretty surprised (it's only February, after all ) that when I went shopping, there are winter things on clearance. I picked up a pair of children's mittens that won't probably won't be used for a couple of years, but they only cost somewhere around $1.50. Into the storage they go. Also into the storage? Found a pair of boots for a child in the next size up (so hopefully they will fit) for next year for $5.00. Hope I find more deals like these--planning ahead with good deals is one way to avoid financial emergencies... :)

DaggerD left a comment on my post about obtaining emergency supplies (check there for the full content of the comment), and thus I am able to add a new Idaho blog to my blog list--Idaho Survival Homesteading. DaggerD suggests Azure Standard as a supply source and notes that their delivery rates are good.

Hope you check out the clearance sales, the blog, and the company, and find something you need---gotta love getting a good deal and more information....

American Survivalist: More Options if Your Vehicle's Stranded

Note from Marie: This post comes to you courtesy of American Survivalist--check out his complete profile over at American Survival Blog. He is in Northern Idaho--welcome to Idaho Preppers Network!

I'll bet most people don't even think of this. Definitely not the people who freeze to death in their car, because, they are sitting right on top of their insulation... you can retain more heat in your body if you pull the padding out of your car seats and start stuffing the padding into your shirt, coat, pant legs etc...What about this; You are stranded in the middle of nowhere, out of gas etc.. I'm forgetting about the global warming carbon b/s and start pulling tires off my car. Setting them out a couple hundred feet away, and lighting the things on fire, one at a time. They burn for a long time and put out a lot of black smoke. Search and rescue's got to see that!

Heat in a can--for your car

I don't know what it's like in your neighborhood, but in snow like we had recently (but which has mostly since disappeared from the streets) we can easily get stuck in our car in the snow in our own neighborhood, even on our own street. My husband said on one of those days that he couldn't go very far without having to get out and help push someone out so that they could get going again. Yeah, neighbors are good like that--but what if you get stuck in your car in the cold with no neighbors around, and no immediate chance of rescue?

It's not a good scenario to find yourself in, especially if you are not prepared. Should you wait it out until someone comes? What if the weather is so bad that it's really hard to even pinpoint where you are? Should you get out and try to find help? Should you try to make it to your destination on foot? There is always going to be a judgment call involved by the people who are actually in the situation--but if you decide to stay with your vehicle, if only initially, there is a way to make that stay more comfortable.

I found the directions for an "Emergency Heater in a Can" over at Emergency Preparedness. The supplies needed are minimal, and a lot of heat can be provided for a lengthy period of time if directions are followed properly--I am amazed, and plan to put one together soon--- hoping, of course, that I never actually have to use it. Of course, I will include the set of instructions with it, which need to be followed carefully, so that it won't end up causing an emergency in and of itself.

You have perhaps heard stories of people who have suffered unfortunate consequences when a car became stranded in the snow in the cold, or even in the cold when there was no snow. You may want to consider putting together your own heater in a can for just such an emergency. In any case, please be sure to have a plan in mind for keeping warm if your vehicle becomes stranded--extra clothing, blankets--whatever it takes so that you can survive the experience.

To each their own--Environment can be particular

Oh yes, it's time for another remark about Idaho:

"If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Idaho ." --Jeff Foxworthy

Yes, Idaho is kind of notorious for being cold--there may be a couple of times during the summer when you wish for air conditioning, but the temperatures at night get cold a lot of the time even then. The way that environment is particular in Idaho is the wintry weather (the wind chill temperatures have been brutal lately) and we need to take that into account as we gather emergency supplies.

So this is an open invitation to bloggers and/or blog readers in Idaho to send in how you are preparing in particular for cold Idaho weather. Hopefully right now (and as far as I know) there are no power outages to deal with, but what do you have in place in case one were to occur? What would you do for an evacuation in the dead of winter in Idaho? What kind of clothing should you have in your 72-hour kit at this time of year that would help to ensure a more comfortable situation for you and yours if you found yourself exposed to the elements? Hopefully you get the idea--I would appreciate any input on how you take care of providing heat for people, structures, or pets. I can probably come up with a couple of posts on the subject, but I would really appreciate the addition of other peoples' expertise. I know, I know, cyber-begging isn't pretty, but it's worth it if more people get themselves prepared as a result. I know I have to do more research myself.

One last thing on the posting part--if you send me a post through the comment section, and indicate that you would like to use it as a post, I will not publish it as a comment, but copy and paste it and post it as a post. I understand the anonymity thing. You can send the comment anonymously, and sign yourself as "Idaho Blogger" or "Potato Harvester"--whatever--I just would really appreciate hearing from others--and I bet any readers would too.... :)

Can't resist this quote in conjunction with this subject:

"If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Idaho ." --Jeff Foxworthy

Yeah, Idahoans are a hearty bunch who weather the cold well, but we still don't want to be caught unprepared in low temperatures.

Oh, and for those who are still reading, and were looking for something a little more interesting than a plea for help, check out what can happen in Venice in this article. Talk about having specific environmental conditions to deal with... The pictures are amazing, and I also think that it's pretty extraordinary that the people just take those kind of weather conditions in stride.

I hope that anyone who lives in cold conditions can handle emergency situations that well in wintry weather.....getting prepared increases the chances of that being the case. And even if you think that every Idahoan knows what to do, share your knowledge anyway--they don't call it the world-wide web for nothing, and you never know who you might help.... :)