Snow Storm Safety Tips and the Kearney Storm

The snow storm warnings ran all day not only on Kearney Nebraska media stations, but throughout the whole region. The snow storm starts at 6 pm Monday night the Kearney NTV and KGFW stations warned and will continue until Wednesday morning. The Kearney storm warnings and a planned Christmas party Monday night, for safety reasons, didn't seem like a good mix...and yet.

My phone rang Monday morning. The hostess, Val, and I discussed the situation. Should we cancel the writer's group Christmas party at her home in North Kearney due to the snow storm warnings? We had safety concerns. If we did cancel due to the pending snow storm, we wouldn't reschedule until January. Too hard to add another event to the December schedule of our members at this late date.

At that point, the Kearney weather was clear and showed no signs of an impending storm-snow or otherwise. Val and I decided to monitor the situation and not make a decision until later. During the day, I listened to weather forecasts. I monitored the progress of the snow storm across the region. Very often, storms go north or south of Kearney. By late afternoon, nothing had changed. Snow hadn't even begun to fall in Kearney. The snow storm hadn't yet hit the area. Val and I decided to go ahead with the Christmas party.

Should things change and the snow storm descend on Kearney, we would quickly disburse. Safety rather than fun had to be our primary concern. We already figured members who lived outside of Kearney, who were safety conscious, would probably not take the chance to drive into Kearney for the Christmas party. Most live in the city limits.

Even though the snow storm seemed a long way off, I made sure I had extra medications in my purse-just in case the snow storm hit without warning. It didn't. By the time I headed home, snow had just begun to fall.

By the time I awoke the next morning, things had changed. By the time, my husband headed to work at noon, safety was a concern, since he worked on the other side of Kearney. I didn't really expect him to get home that night. Just in case, he took my cell phone with him, along with a bottle of water, and extra medication. I knew he already carried a shovel in his trunk. There was a blanket in the car as well as a first aid kit.

I don't think he'd added the cat litter, which is good to carry in case the car gets stuck. Cat litter helps the wheels of the car regain traction.

Other things that should be in the car when traveling during a snow storm is a flashlight and extra batteries and a radio that doesn't need batteries to work. A charged cell phone is also very important. These things can make the difference between life and death, safety and disaster.

During the day of the snow storm, my family and I kept in touch to make sure everyone was all right. Before leaving work, my husband called to let me know he was starting home. (He made it safely.)

What can you do to keep safe in a snow storm?

Monitor the weather and make wise choices about traveling.

Make sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions.

If you must get out, make sure to carry a charged cell phone.

If you might not make it home, be sure to carry extra medications and other necessary supplies.

In your car, have cat litter, a shovel, a blanket, water, first aid kit and a radio that works with hand power instead of batteries.

Keep in touch. Make sure someone knows when you start and when you arrive at your destination.

From someone who has lived in Ontario Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin and other snow states, I know from experience that using these tips could help you stay safe during a snow storm whether that snow storm is in Kearney Nebraska or any place else snow is a problem.

When there is a snow storm, remember-safety first.