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Cold and Ice

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds.

Prepare for Cold/Ice

You will need the following supplies during a winter storm.

  • Blankets
  • Emergency Kit
  • 3-day supply of non-perishable emergency food
  • 3-day supply of water
  • Medication
  • Flashlight
  • Batteries
  • Battery Pack for Phone
  • Weather radio

How to Respond

If your heat goes out, you should:

  • Close off unneeded rooms to avoid wasting heat.
  • Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
  • Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat.
  • Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Drinks lots of water and other non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic drinks to prevent dehydration. Cold air is very dry.
  • Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration and subsequent chill.
  • Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.

Residence Hall Power Outage: 

  • Do NOT use candles or any open flame as a light source. This is STILL prohibited due to the
    Life Safety Code. Use a flashlight or battery-powered lamp.
  • Card access will not allow doors to unlock in most residence halls. You may still use any door
    to exit the building if necessary; however, you may only use the main entrance to enter. There
    will be staff in the lobbies as frequently as possible to admit students during a power outage.
  • Please contact on-duty staff if you need entry and no one is at the entrance.
  • Residence Life staff will make more frequent rounds of the buildings during an outage.
  • Do not attempt to use the elevators.

Please promptly report emergencies or maintenance issues – particularly leaks or water outages –
to your hall staff on duty. The duty phone numbers are located on the back of your room
entrance door. Review the fire and safety policies and information in your Residence Hall Handbook, found online via our website.

If you must drive during a storm, take the following precautions:

  • Slow down! Even if the roads just look wet they could still be slick.
  • Make sure your vehicle is completely clear of ice or snow before starting the trip. Flying snow from cars causes accidents.
  • Let someone know where you are going and what route you will take. If something happens, this person will know where to start a search.
  • Bring an emergency kit, blankets, boots, and an extra coat in the event your vehicle becomes disabled.
  • If you are driving and begin to skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and turn your wheels in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
  • If you are having trouble seeing due to weather conditions, pull over to the side of the road and stop your car until visibility improves. Turn off your lights and use your parking break when stopped so that another car won't mistakenly follow your tail/brake lights and end up hitting you.
  • Watch for patches of ice when walking and driving. Remember, bridges have a tendency to freeze before roadways.

For more information, refer to the National Weather Service at weather.gov.