DURING A WINTER STORM:
Q. Is snow a good or bad thing?
The purity and sheer whiteness of a fresh snowfall has a rich symbolic power. Writer John Burnside claims that snow “cleanses our world and our senses”, while poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox calls it a “white mantle of repentance”. For both, snow brings spiritual and mental renewal. But where there is snow, soon comes slush.
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Q. What are the dangers of snow?
Cold temperatures, snow, ice, blizzard conditions with high winds and dangerous wind chills can all occur, leading to personal injury, frostbite, hypothermia, and possibly death. Accumulations of snow and ice can result in road closures or blockages — isolating homes and farms for days.
- Stay indoors and dress warmly.
- Eat regularly.
- Drink water.
- If you must go outside, wear layered clothing, mittens and a hat.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
- Keep dry.
- If you must drive, carry a cell phone.
- Keep the gas tank full.
Q. What can snow cause?
Strong winds and heavy snow can damage cause tree limbs to fall onto structures or even utility lines, resulting in power outages. Drifts can block roads and sidewalks and make traveling difficult well after the storm is over.
Q. Does snow damage house?
Snow Melt Can Flood Your Home Snow melt can leak through tiny cracks in your foundation, damaging your walls and flooding your basement. This problem can get worse over time, as repeated cycles of melting and refreezing add cracks to your foundation.
Q. How does a snowstorm start?
Winter storms usually form when an air mass of cold, dry, Canadian air moves south and interacts with a warm, moist air mass moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. The point where these two air masses meet is called a front. If cold air advances and pushes away the warm air, it forms a cold front.
