There’s a new commercial for a popular brand of soup that shows a weary mother grocery shopping with a voiceover advising of snow and subsequent school closings. He advises that their soup (& a nice bottle of wine) is just what the doctor ordered for such situations. No reason to believe that the setting of the commercial is North Carolina, but we are certainly no strangers to wintery weather. While we’re no different than any other state or region that experiences various forms of winter precipitation, the ice storms that typify our winters usually mean icy roads and closed schools. And, although it’s something that comes every year, we are often caught off guard and trapped in the horror of long grocery lines (gotta get that milk, bread, & eggs), and activation of “Plan B” scenarios for parents across the state.
Your children may be saying, “Yayyyy, snow day!!!” but you have to keep in mind: the possibility of missed work/pay, power outages, dwindling food supplies (little crumb-snatchers!), and keeping energetic rambunctious children entertained all day long for possibly days at a time. There are ways that you can get in front of the mayhem that ensues once the snow and ice start to fall. For starters, keeping a healthy supply of pop-top or microwaveable cans of kid-friendly meals is a good start. As long as the power stays on a little spaghetti-o’s or tomato soup goes a long way; as does milk and cereal. If the power does go out, having a kerosene heater is imperative. It provides a source of heat for warmth and heating food. There are also snacks like chips, fruit, yogurt, etc. to keep around. Not sure why the milk, eggs, and bread gets gone first, possible a statewide love of French toast. These suggested staples are to supplement those three.
As far as other things in the case of power outages, there are also staples you should probably keep on hand, if you can’t find shelter somewhere else. Flashlights and batteries are a given, candles and matches also. But, if you don’t already keep bottled water on hand, a case or two in the garage in case of emergency is good advice. In addition to the water, consider purchasing a vitamin rich drink or an energy drink, also. A battery powered radio can help you stay abreast of the weather and subsequent continued closings. There are also special, battery powered radios that are equipped with ability to detect and alert emergency weather situations in a specific geographic area.
Preparedness is the key. Pay attention to possible inclement weather systems, keep supplies on hand and have a plan in place to deal with the kid factor. Either designate/alternate a parent to stay home, lock in a family member to babysit, or partner with a nearby neighbor to make a schedule (You keep mine and yours for this closing, I got next…). With proper supplies on hand, a plan devised for your kids, a subscription to Netflix and video games…you’ll breeze through another NC winter.
