You may hope not to end up stuck in the ditch or on the side of the road during a winter storm, but there are some key things to keep in mind when you are faced with that situation.

Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf advises motorists to always keep an emergency supply kit in their car. This includes jumper cables, sand or kitty litter for tire traction, a flashlight, an extra set of clothes and blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. As it may take up to several hours to get help, Kempf advises you to always have a full tank of gas and to keep the engine in mind, “Don’t run your car constantly. Run it for 15 minutes shut it off for 10-15 minutes, (then) run it for 15 minutes. Try and keep it warm so that you’re not having to warm it up a lot but you want to conserve gas.”

Kempf also urges drivers to not wander away from their vehicle during a storm, as it is easy to become disoriented and get lost in blowing snow. Another helpful tool is to have a string or ribbon to tie onto your vehicle’s antenna to make it easier to spot from the roadway. Whenever Guthrie, Greene or Dallas Counties are struck by severe winter weather, Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team provides cancellation and road condition information both on-air and on our website.