In December 2022, the northeastern U.S. was hit by a devastating four-day blizzard.
In some areas, the snowstorm dumped several feet of snow in a matter of a couple of hours.
This happened during the height of that year’s holiday travel season. The snowstorm knocked out power for more than 100,000 people, it paralyzed most emergency services, it effectively stopped travel in general, and when all was said and done, it left at least 47 people dead.
Some of those people died as a result of heart complications, because they over-exerted themselves shoveling snow.
However, a significant portion of the deaths were a result of motorists who were trapped in their vehicles for an extended period of time, in freezing temperatures, beyond the reach of any emergency service personnel.
These people sadly, literally, froze to death in their cars and trucks.
And we’ve seen this sad scenario play out many times before when a natural disaster strikes.
People assume, sometimes fatally, that first responders will be able to make it to them and save them from a desperate situation.
But unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you really have to be your own first responder.
And so in that vein, since we’re heading into the winter season, here are some recommendations on things that you can do to protect yourself and your family. Join host Roman Balmakov on this week’s episode of “Facts Matter.”
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