How to survive snow and bitter cold that's reached all the way to the Gulf Coast
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Protecting homes, cars, people and pets from snow, ice and bitterly cold temperatures just isn't something many people are accustomed to in the Deep South. But northerners build certain tips into their everyday lives, from dressing in layers to trying not to panic if your car begins to slide.
When approaching a stop, for instance, “brake much sooner than you normally would, and just start easing into that stop in case sliding will occur — because it probably will on ice,” says Brock Carlson, owner of Let's Get Rolling Driving School in northern Minnesota.
He and other experts have some common-sense measures anyone can take to guard against this week's extreme winter weather. The winter blast has brought unusually cold temperatures and rare snow that's coated New Orleans landmarks and even beaches along the Alabama and Mississippi coastline.
Here's what to know to survive the cold, snow and ice:. How to stay warm. Dress in layers of clothing that protect all exposed skin, the National Weather Service advises in its cold weather safety guides. — Eat hot foods and drink warm beverages, but avoid caffeine and alcohol because they can make you dehydrated.
— Know the warning signs of hypothermia: Confusion, shivering, difficultly speaking, sleepiness and stiff muscles. — Check on relatives, friends and neighbors. How to protect your home. Open cabinets in bathrooms and in the kitchen to allow warm air to reach pipes, the weather service advises.
