Woodstock blizzard suggests residents shouldn’t put away the scraper and snow brush yet

This photo, taken from Ethereal Confections Sunday,
shows the blizzard that hit Woodstock in full bloom.

It’s good to be prepared. Some people in Woodstock had put their scraper and snow brush away already when Sunday’s blizzard hit. They may have discovered that they were premature to do so.

It’s difficult to be prepared for any situation but it’s worth the effort to try. Having the means to clear the windows was crucial Sunday. In fact, the snow in Woodstock was so heavy that by 1 p.m. some people had 8 inches of snow built up on their cars; they needed to clear the snow off the rest of the car, not just the windows.

The good news is that by Monday, the snow will have stopped, if you can trust the weather reports, and the temperature will reach 45 degrees. By Tuesday, they’re calling for temperatures of 64 degrees. Weather that warm is inhospitable for snow. With a high degree of confidence, we can expect the snow to melt.

Will you put away the scraper and snow brush then? That’s your call. Since it’s not too inconvenient to keep them in the car, you might as well leave them in the car a little longer. Still, the odds of another blizzard are happily slim in the Woodstock area until late next autumn. But, there are other ways to ensure your car is prepared for whatever else the weather will throw at you.

This time of year, rain often comes in bucketloads. Add that to all the snow that will melt in the next few days and you’re liable to have areas of standing water on the road. Approach this with caution. Your car could stall if you drive into water that is higher than you expect.

The other thing you should do is to ensure that your cell phone is properly charged so that, if you do have a problem, whether stalled in deep water or otherwise broke down, you can call for help.

You may still want to keep a blanket in the car, something to snack on that won’t go bad in the car for a while, and some water. You should also make sure you have appropriate reflectors to put out if the car breaks down and that you have a good spare tire and the equipment to change the tire, if need be.

Better yet, rather than change the tire yourself, having a road-side-service plan will ensure that someone can come by and change the tire for you. They can also come out and jumpstart your car, if necessary, or tow your car to a repair shop.

Finally, making sure your car is in good running condition will go a long way in helping you avoid roadside emergencies and breakdowns. Have the oil changed, the charging system, tires, steering and suspension systems checked.

You never know when a blizzard is going to hit Woodstock – obviously this can happen later in the year than you expect. But you can take steps to be prepared no matter what the weather throws at you.

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