How do you prepare for this kind of situation ?

(Click on picture to see the next one ; pix have been taken in Boston - thanks to Stokie)

Holy crap!
Being from Houston, I have never seen snow like that, but I would imagine lots of canned food, bottle water, and something to cook it over. Power could go out so put any frozen food out the back door to keep it cool.

Thanks for posting Frenchy!

The 72-hour pack might not do it.

How does the guy who operates the snowplow GET to the snowplow???

Sue

I've seen snow like that <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

We still had to go to school <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well, we have had similar storms here in Eastern PA - they don't come often, but they DO come.

In the storm that socked Boston so hard (which was not as bad here), we lost power for a day, which necessitated the use of a generator to operate our water well and septic system.

I'd say that we could run "autonomously" here at the house for about 10 days, that's assuming we manage generator use and water consuption, and of course, we need to maintain a decent stash of firewood, because we try to heat our home with wood as often as possible in the winter. This year, unfortunately, we've raced through our firewood stores, and I have at most 2 weeks wood left. I always like to end each burn season with about 2 weeks worth of wood left, this year, I'll actually run out of wood before winter runs out.

As far as food and stuff - again we have supplies in the pantry for quite a while.

Just FYI - for BIG storms like this, the snowplow guys (and I know several of them) get called in durring the early phases of the storm and they don't get to go home.

Had a minor bug-in a couple of weeks ago with an ice storm. Hit on Friday night, so I basically just slept late on Saturday and hibernated.

Comment on one handy item:

We were without power on Saturday night. I had flashllights, oil lamp and candles enough to light up the neighborhood along with a fire in the fireplace, but I also have children.

When it is pitch black in the house you need some way to get around, but do not need to leave a candle or lamp burning unattended. (A house fire makes plenty of light, but really more than I needed. )

Anyway, I activated a Cyalume Lightstick. Just about the same brightness as a night light. Left it in the hallway just outside the kids room all night. No heat, No flames, Kids can take it to bathroom. Very safe method of supplying that little bit of light you need to keep from triping over something and breaking your neck.

A few lightsticks are good to have around the house along with other brighter light sources. (Also a good nightlight around a campsite when you are camping with kids.) A little expensive if you only want light for a few minutes, but as cheap as batteries if you want all night.

Susan:

The snowplow guys come in way before the accumulation starts and keep going back to streets they have already plowed over and over again so that they keep ahead of the sum total which would overwhelm their equipment.

Bountyhunter

Oh. That seems like a good idea. Being raised in SoCalif just doesn't prepare you for weather like that.

sue

Susan:

It's ok, cause over here in wonderful; "If You Don't Like The Weather, Wait a Half Hour" Wisconsin, even our biggest snowplows couldn't handle mud slides. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Bountyhunter

I live in Maryland and we got hit with 3 feet of snow a couple years back while I was in college. Real briefly I will give you my experience. I was totally unprepared, so a lot of my advice will be negative

Don't plan on going to the grocery store the day before the storm hits. Everybody will have the same idea. You will fight the populous for whatever is left on the shelves. Forget about bread and milk. You'll be enjoying clam juice and sunscreen.

Ditto on buying a shovel. After wasting my time at the grocery store, we decided we might want to buy a shovel. I was having trouble finding one at our local Wal-mart so I asked a salesperson. After they were done laughing hysterically, they managed to tell me they sold out days ago. I ended up using a small Rubbermaid trashcan to dig myself out. Fun.

I had been using an old pair of work boots as my snow boots in the years prior. And they worked great in 1-6 inches of snow. They stink in 3 - 6 foot snow drifts. Own are real pair of snow boots.

Unless you own a Land Rover, Jeep or customized off road vehicle with snow tires, your are not going anywhere. I watched my neighbor in his shiny new F250 work truck get himself stuck in the snow. All-season tires aren't. The clearance under the truck also seems to be a major problem. I am not a "truck" guy so this is just my observations.

We ended up snowed in for about 4 days. The power never went out but our cable did. So I would not call it a survival or emergency situation by a long shot. Just a lesson in basic preparedness. The upshot was the state ran out of places to dump the snow. (They ended up dumping it in Baltimore Habor) And my school couldn't clear the parking lots so classes were cancelled for 5 days.

Yesterday, some snow was falling over Paris. It didn't last very long, a few hours only.
We didn't get a lot, maybe one inch or a bit more.
But it was panic time !!!!!! with many blocked roads.

Granted, right outside Paris, there was a bit more snow and as the temp there is a bit lower the snow held better on the roads.

By 12:00, the streets were free of snow but people (many of them only arriving at their office at that time) were scared and most took off at 16:00, to get back home ....
Paris (and subburbs) inhabitants are no longer used to weather changes.

In the countryside, people are more prepared.
My uncle, living in Alsace, succeded to slide in the gully, while driving carefully to school (where he teaches). He called for his mechanics to come and tow the car out of there, but then some guy with a 4 wheel drive car passed by, stopped, attached a piece of cord between the two vehicles and towed him off the gully.
"Here you are ! Bye"
"thanks"....
that was it...

Don't expect this to happen in/near Paris... or be prepared to wait a long time for such a good samaritan (?).
<img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

For that? Ah, that's not so bad...I just get out the skis!

Seriously though, the northeastern US has storms of comparable intensity more often than you might think. The most important items to remember are:

1. Put proper snow and ice tires on your car.
2. Make sure you get gasoline for the snow blower before the storm hits.
3. Keep tire chains and a snow shovel in the car in case you get stuck. Some people also go a bit farther and carry a blanket, some water, and some food, plus survival supplies.

Of course, your house should already be stocked with food and extra water at all times. Here in the US, Alain, most homes have a 40 US Gallon hot water heater, so we always have that to drain if the power goes out.

Most municipalities also have regular snow plowing services for the streets, so after the snow stops, and even during the storm, it takes quite a lot to truly stop all traffic. Even if traffic does stop, such as during the 24-30" snow storm that hit us back in 1996, the worst that happens is that supply trucks don't get in to some stores for about a week. In fact, usually the hardest part is clearing the end of the driveway after the plows have thrown up a big wall of snow in front of it.

The biggest danger, though, is probably that most people don't put real snow and ice tires on their cars, but rely on all-season tires. Just tonight, I was driving home in a relatively heavy snow that is predicted to drop about 8" of snow by tomorrow morning. I saw many accidents and near-accidents that could have been avoided had the drivers used more caution.

But with my snow tires, I could laugh and say "coup fourre"! (I'm a disciple of Mille Bornes, can you tell?)

Waoh.... it's a long time since I played Mille Bornes .... <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />