How to Make it Through the Cold: A Polar Vortex Survival Guide

It has come to my attention that not everyone on campus knows how to deal with cold weather (I’m looking at you, Floridians!). I don’t know what faulty wiring forced you to come to Nebraska, but your lack of caution has caused me some alarm. Thus, it’s my civic duty to provide a few tips on surviving in a frozen land.

Layer like a sheet cake: Layers are the key to warmth. The more layers you wear, the warmer you are. The key, however, is the order in which you layer. You must start with the lightest item, then move on to heavier pieces. For example, the proper shirt order is tank top, t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt, sweater, hoodie, light jacket, winter coat (layers may be skipped to account for “warmer” temperatures and you can always shed a layer). 

Side note: never wear canvas shoes. If they get wet, they never dry and will stay cold forever. Also, put your gloves on before you’re outside. They work by containing the heat from your hands. If you wait until they’re cold, they won’t work.

Kitty litter saves lives: If you end up stuck in a ditch, it’s likely that you can’t get out due to a lack of traction. The solution? Kitty litter. If you get stuck in a ditch, pour the litter as close to your tires as possible to provide traction and slowly drive out of your trap.

Keep a blanket and a candle: If you make a poor driving decision and didn’t heed my kitty litter advice, you may end up waiting for help to arrive. If this happens, you will want a blanket and a candle in your car. The blanket will keep you warm. The candle will also help a little with heat and provides some light if it’s late at night or early in the morning.

Stockpile like the apocalypse is nigh: Keep at least a week’s worth of food in your home. If there’s a bad storm or blizzard, it could be days, possibly weeks, before you’re able to go shopping again. The worst possible thing would be starving in your home because you weren’t prepared. Keeping extra food in case the weather turns is the best thing you can do.

You must respect cold weather when it comes to town. It’s nothing to mess around with. Please make wise decisions. Take my advice and stay safe!

Lacey Stecker is a sophomore

communication major from

Noblesville, Ind.