Preparing your vehicle for a winter storm

LANCASTER- It’s important to plan ahead and living in Buffalo we all know that a big winter storm is sure to come. While the sun may be shining now and the white stuff has yet to stick to the ground, stocking up on certain items and making sure you are prepared should be the first thing you do this season.

Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet, and freezing rain.

One of the primary concerns is the winter weather's ability to knock out heat, power, and communication services to your home or office, sometimes for a matter of minutes or in some cases many days. Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region.

While it is just as important to have emergency supplies at home, I thought I would focus on making sure you have a survival kit in your car, since many of us don’t have one and that statement is proven by the number of people who were unprepared when the big October Storm hit.

But what should you put in a kit? Listed below are a few things every kit should contain:

• Blankets/sleeping bags

• Flashlight with extra batteries

• Battery power radio

• Knife

• Matches

• High calorie, non-perishable food

• A can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water

• Sand or cat litter

• Shovel

• Windshield scraper

• Tool kit

• Tow rope

• Jumper cables

• Water

• Snack food

• Compass

• Road maps

• Extra winter clothes and boots

Also, keep your vehicle’s gas tank full in case you get stranded and to keep the fuel line from freezing.

Furthermore, protect yourself and your passengers. Allow extra time to reach your destination during inclement weather. It takes only one unprepared or careless driver to slow or stop traffic. 

Do not be that driver who shuts down the road. People will hate you.

I would also like to mention to those who like to drive like it is 90 degrees out and the roads are perfectly fine, slow down. I absolutely hate it when I am carefully driving on the road and an idiot behind me is inches away from the back of my vehicle. Be considerate to other drivers, not all of us want to die. Honking your horn and flipping me off just makes the situation 10 times worse.

Go around me or be patience and pass when you can. Thank you.