Unexpected Items That Can Help You During a Blizzard

“In a major emergency, oftentimes ATMs won’t be working and stores won’t accept credit cards, so it’s good to have extra cash on hand,” Michael de Vulpillieres, then communications officer for the American Red Cross, told Business Insider in 2020.

According to the Red Cross, home fires spike during the coldest months of the year due to various heating methods.

“At the Red Cross, we see some major fires during extreme weather events like blizzards,” de Vulpillieres said. “You want to be careful when you’re heating your home, because there are certain fire risks.”

He recommended exercising caution while using candles, fireplaces, and space heaters, which are often the cause of fires. Space heaters in particular should be placed on a flat, hard surface at least 3 feet from anything flammable. And never use your oven to heat your home.

Crumple the papers and stuff them under clothes to keep warm, de Vulpillieres said.

Sand can help the tires move on slippery ice and snow. Salt can also help prevent the resulting slush from freezing again.

If you happen to have some in your car, it’s worth using to get unstuck.

The mats can be placed under the tires to keep them from slipping.

In a pinch, pine needles and sticks can increase traction.

Adding weight to a car by pushing down on the hood or placing rocks on top of it can help increase traction when attempting to drive out of snow.

Pulling a car out of a ditch is the most effective way to move it.

“In snow, it’s better to pull than to push,” de Vulpillieres said.

Cooking spray can be used to keep car doors from freezing shut by spraying the corners. Spraying your snow shovel can also keep snow from sticking to it.

If you don’t have a snow brush or an ice scraper in your car, the edges of a credit card can get the job done.