Thawing Out Your Mind: Ice Storm Survival You May Have Forgotten

By VICTORIA OLIVARES/Staff Writer

Smith County has been issued a Disaster Declaration by Judge Neal Franklin on Friday, Jan. 23.

According to an article on the Smith County Website, Judge Franklin said, “Doing this now allows emergency management officials to respond quickly to any issues that arise during the disaster and to ask for aid when needed.”

Students at UT Tyler and the Tyler community have already been preparing by shopping for the storm. With an ice storm warning in effect until noon Sunday, it’s unclear when conditions will actually improve.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when going through this ice storm that you may have forgotten about.

Check your car

1. It is a good idea to check your tank and try to get it at least half-full. If your car is already having a hard time starting up, it is likely time to get a new battery before the ice storm hits full blast. When electricity goes out and your phone dies, do not forget that charging it in your car will also drain your battery.
2. Check your tire pressure, your PSI will likely drop with the colder weather. If your tires have worn down tread, also known as balding, try not to drive unless it is an emergency situation.
3. If the weather becomes frozen temperatures, you can put your windshield wipers up in service mode to avoid getting them frozen to your windshield or other parts of your vehicle.
4. Make sure your car has enough antifreeze and have some ready to go once the freezing temperatures rise. Once you start driving in cold weather, your vehicle will likely burn it faster.

Get all essentials 

1. Make sure you have located all prescription medication and other day-to-day medical supplies. Don’t have just the bare minimum, if you are low make sure to get more.
2. Have some basic first-aid equipment such as bandaids, gauze, or be ready to use some DIY supplies in case of an emergency.
3. Hand sanitizer is useful in cases of having limited water access.
4. Basic pain relievers are great to locate for fever, muscle aches, or headaches.

Plan entertainment

1. Download any media such as movies, shows, podcasts, or music that you want in case electricity goes out. Having more is better than having too little.
2. Find mobile games that you can play with roommates or games that do not require any WiFi.
3. Charge any powerbanks, computers, or other electronics you may want to use.
4. Get creative! Read that book you have been putting off, play some board games, or just start that coloring book you have been saving.

Stay clean

1. Wash any blankets or clothes that you have been avoiding so you have it in the storm. Just make sure you get your clothes out of the washer or dryer once your time is up so other people are not waiting on you.
2. Take a shower and dry your hair so you feel clean and avoid getting sick.
3. Make sure your basic necessities are around like your toothbrush, toothpaste, dry shampoo and lotion.

Create a gameplan

1. If you have roommates, plan for what happens if electricity goes out during freezing temperatures. It is better to stay in one designated area together to stay warm if this happens.
2. If you live alone, think of ways you can stay warm during the ice storm and plan for any emergencies that may arise.
3. If you have an animal, like an emotional support animal, make sure your animal is also staying warm and well taken care of during this storm. This may be their first ice storm!

Stay updated

1. Keep an eye on the weather apps or channels in case another emergency takes place or there is a drastic change in weather. This is a great time to enable any weather alerts.
2. Communicate with roommates so everyone knows what is happening around them.
3. Contact your RA and go to the clubhouse if you need food, other resources are available on campus for students as well as throughout the community.
4. Continue to read up on the student media at UT Tyler on instagram @thepatriottalon.

If you need any help or have emergency situations, contact 911, your RA, or the UT Tyler Police Department at 903.566.7300 or visit their website at https://www.uttyler.edu/offices/police/.