Be Prepared for College Snow Days

Elementary and high school students aren't the only ones who get excited for snow days. A snow day in college might be rare for some schools (especially smaller campuses), but also usually a pleasantry for those college students lucky enough to get one. But let's say your snow day takes out your electricity, or that you get snowed in, or both. Are you prepared for limited or no access to the outside world for a few days? If so, good for you. If not, check out these five tips to prepare you for the worst!

1. Let There Be Light! Make sure you have at least one flashlight that is powerful enough to light up your whole room and a few feet in front of you if you need to walk down a hallway. Better yet, make it two if you live on your own, or at least one per roommate. You'll also want to stock up on extra batteries, and store them in a place you can easily find in the dark. If your campus is not against candles, also consider purchasing a bag of tea-light candles, which are usually the least expensive, cheap and safe tea-light holders, and a disposable lighter. Be sure to place your tea-lights in risk-free locations (i.e., on windowsills with curtains fully raised, on top of bookshelves with something nonflammable between the candle and the shelf, away from any stacks of paper, fabric, etc.), and store the lighter in an upward position in a cup or holder you can easily locate in the dark.

2. A Diet of Bread and Water: We've all heard stories comparing college dining hall food to bread and water diets, but bread and water is better than no food at all. If you hear a lot of snow is coming, buy yourself a loaf of bread and several containers of water at least a few days before the storm is predicted to arrive. Don't buy anything that requires refrigeration to top your bread; if the power goes out, your refrigerator is not going to do you much good. Instead, consider peanut butter and jelly, honey, and butter (which will soften but usually not completely melt if not refrigerated) or spread. Exchange the bread for a bag of bagels and get a container of cream cheese, which will stay long enough if the power goes out for a day or two. To jazz up your water, consider buying single serving packs of flavor powder like Kool-Aid or Crystal Light packs. Other foods you might consider stocking up on are: granola bars, Jell-O or pudding cups, fruits, (but not bananas or other fruits that over-ripen quickly) and vegetables like fresh peeled carrots, and cereal (which you can eat dry).

3. Speaking of Batteries... If you just can't live without your laptop, and the power might go out, what are you to do? One option is to keep your battery charged fully at all times so you at least have a few hours if the power goes out. A better option might be to invest in a spare laptop battery, and make sure you charge it to maximum capacity before a potential power outage. But an even better option is to replace your laptop with a book or craft project and give the electronic world a rest (except your flashlight).

4. Emergency Supplies. So you're stumbling around in the darkness trying to find something and you somehow manage to cut yourself. Or you find yourself suffering a huge headache or stomach upset and the campus medical office is closed. The best way to prepare for an emergency that might limit your access to the outside world is to bring a basic medical center to yourself. Stock up on Band-Aids, gauze, antiseptic cream, aspirin or non-aspirin pain killers, cold and cough medicine, and other basic medical supplies. Guys, you can step away for a moment whilst I lay some advice on the ladies: Ladies, stock up on sanitary pads and tampons, or know how to make your own emergency supply, just in case.

5. Layer It on Thick! If the power goes out, your heat might go out, and if that happens you'll want to be prepared for it. Keep a supply of extra sweaters and sweatshirts, and long-sleeved tees to layer under them. Also make sure you have a spare comforter or quilt, and a few extra fleeces, wraps, or shawls to bundle up in. Never make the electric your primary source of heat ... you never know when it might give up or give out on you!

Other things to keep in mind:

If you have a cellphone, keep it charged in case you need to call your parents to let them know you're okay, or in case of an emergency. If you don't have your own mobile phone, make sure you know someone who won't mind letting you use his or hers for a few minutes.

Use your Resident Assistant(s) and/or Residence Director as a resource; if your school has an emergency closure plan, they will know about it!

Disposable washcloths and cleansing cloths are a good thing to keep in stock in case a water pipe breaks and you have no access to clean running water (or if the hot water goes out and you can't stand the idea of a cold shower).

Snow days are great days for board and card games ... gather some friends on the floor for a game day if the power goes out.

Playing in the snow is always fun, but be smart about it in the midst of a potentially campus-closing snow storm. First, if the power goes out and you have no heat, you'll be cold and wet for enough time to get sick. Second, if your dormitory or apartment building has electronic access (i.e., via your student ID card) you might get locked out!