The big freeze 2020

[Biancadelrioisback]

Apparently we are going to have the coldest winter in early 2020 since 2013 making the beast from the east look like nothing.

It didn't really snow here last year but we've used to live in the city centre but have recently moved to a town in Northumberland and I just want to make sure I'm prepared.
So what's your top tips for snow storm prepping?

In your situation i’d talk to your neighbours to see how things have been in the past - how quickly are the roads ploughed? How far away is the nearest shop and how long did it take to run out of milk/bread etc? If there’s a powercut, does the utility company manage to get out the same day or could it take days to sort? Ditto water company issues.

Then make a plan - 3 days of food/water/meds is standard, a week is better. Make sure your outside pipes have cladding/insulation on before the cold snap. Some blankets and hot water bottles are good to have handy if the heating packs up.

Look in camping shops now for deals on little camping stoves and a camping kettle. Always nice to be able to brew up something warm in a power cut. (Consider getting some hot chocolate & soup sachets in). (Obviously caution is needed if using this and preferably not inside!!)

Spare hats/gloves/coats so if you are outside playing in the snow and get wet and cold you can change. Some board games / cards / books to entertain everyone if it’s really coming down and you’re stuck in the house.

To get around the clear shelf panic buyers, consider having some UHT milk and part baked bread in (or learn how to make your own bread and get flour and yeast).

Meds are another important one - if you wake up with a rotten cold and the roads are shit, it’s nice to know you have some paracetamol / lemsip already on hand!! Some doctors/pharmacies will happily allow a slightly early prescription refill if there’s bad weather coming.

The main thing is prepare in plenty of time (as you’re doing!) not be day before the snow comes

Prepping, buy a snow shovel or two and grit before the weather hits. Make sure you have more than one source of heat so that if one power goes out, you can switch. Likewise light sources. When I lived up on the moors with small children, I hung thick drapes in front of doors, it’s amazing how much warmth that keeps in.
Gel hot water bottles that you pop in the microwave are safer than the old sort, but either are great for bed warming.

Oh I meant to say, depending on your DC’s ages look at getting on your local Priority Services register as a lot will put you on if you have DC under 5. It means your address gets marked by utilities as needing a bit of extra TLC and, for example, you may get a phone call in the event of a Water outage to see if you need bottles delivering to you.

Oh these a great thanks!
My DS is 2 (3 in dec) that the priority services is a great shout.

I've got a canny few tins hidden away, am a dab hand at making bread and jam but the UTC milk is a great idea!

I usually keep quite a lot of pain relief in the house as DH is forever injuring himself playing sport so I stock up.

We have loads of candles and blankets but could do with more warm socks and hats & gloves. Camping stove and kettle are great ideas!!! I don't think it'll come to that but worth being prepared!

With regards to drinking water, how long will it last? Should I be looking to buy now or wait?

Join local Facebook sites as these will keep you up to date with any issues eg roads to avoid. If it’s like my town (we get snowed in at least one day a year) the sites are also where those with 4x4s offer to pick up the elderly to take to the local hospital appointments or where people are asking for help to dig out a wagon delivering to the supermarket.

Check with work what their policy is for home working and how to request it. Make sure you have your laptop with you.

Buy sledges for the kids.

Keep your mobile charged up.

My dh saw the weather warning.
We have that MN fave hate thing, a wood burning stove. I bought a Dutch oven type thing to fit in it if I can't cook outside or on the normal gas hob in the event of an electricity power cut.
We have been seasoning wood this year but will probably get some kiln dried extras.
Hot water bottles.
Hats.
Wool is your friend. I found a massive and cheap all wool blanket at a charity shop in lovely nick as well as merino wool jumpers in the ski sale aisle at Aldi last year.
I live in a suburban area that gets hit by snow so I have those ice things for my boots.
I used to live in Siberia so hats, scarves and mittens are a basic. Sheepskin mittens are awesome.
Lip salve.
Never put cold wet feet on the radiator- recipe for chilblains as I know to my cost as a teenager in NW England.

My sister got stuck in her car in a snowstorm for hours.
She needed light, a portable battery to charge her phone, she played games on her tablet to pass the time, something to wrap herself in to keep warm while waiting & a hot drink along with some snacks.
She always carries a thermos of hot water & some cup a soups with her because that's what she likes.
If she doesn't get stuck, it's just some warm water to get rid of at the end of the journey.
She now also carries a couple of usb rechargeable hand warmers, some gloves, thick socks, a hat & a sleeping bag in the car because she still got pretty cold.
Everything you need will fit in a backpack which you can sling in the car but makes all the difference if you break down.

Definitely need a car survival bag! DH thinks I'm mad but Ive been stranded in a life boat before (not quite as dramatic as it sounds) and that was crap so I definitely want to be prepared. I need some power banks, I think that'll be my first step.
We live right next to a grit box so that's handy

Let me see, it's early September. I think getting a life might be in order!

This is in Prepper topic @BillywilliamV . Perhaps you could spend some time on The Litter Tray saying all cats are shit. Or Style and Breauty and tell people that lipstick is dreadful.
Why waste your time on threads of no interest to you.

😄 Or stomping round the shops, yelling Bah Humbug and knocking mince pies off the shelves.

Make sure you don't do Christmas shopping until about 3.30 on December 24. Anything earlier is just crazy.😂😂

Oh let's open that can of worms! I'm already finished my Christmas shopping

Oh, she also has a couple of nappy bags (for disposing of the waste) & some baby wipes in her car backpack because she needed the loo while she was stuck in the middle of nowhere & when you've got to go, you've got to go.

I’m more familiar with the NE and the SE of the USA so my knowledge is focused there. A few years ago, even before Super Storm Sandy there were huge blizzards. To the point where lots of stores ran out of road salt to sell people. It was a kind of chaos. Several cities couldn’t de-ice the roads due to a lack of salt. I highly suggest you stock up on bags of it before the main season hits. Try getting a few bags end of September or mid-October before snow really gets going.

There’s also standard stuff like ensuring you have lots of batteries, candles, flashlights and the like. Add a few ice scrapers to each family member’s car as well to keep the windows clear. I’d also keep some in the house in case you need them at home. Ice picks as well but I’m not sure how cold it gets in your neck of the woods.

Do you need extra heating oil and other warming/cooking tools?

kids porta potty can take up to 11 stone...

It's been really mild .. so far.

Our bedroom radiator froze during the Beast from the East, my parents also had a burst radiator - both of which were on the north elevation. I spoke to our heating engineer about this and he said the only thing we can do is turn down the temperature of the boiler to 1/2 and turn the thermostats up higher in those rooms so there's warm constantly circulating in those pipes and radiators. Your boiler won't switch off until it's reached full temperature on the main thermostat.