Indiana weather is always unpredictable, but it’s safe to predict that there will be at least one severe winter storm in the upcoming months. It’s important to consider the disruptions that winter weather can cause and how to be prepared to handle them.

Photo: Winter snow on IU Kokomo campus.

Severe winter weather may not seem as dangerous as a tornado or an earthquake, but the likelihood of being affected by a winter storm is much higher, and the effects can be just as devastating. As students, it is important to consider how classes will be affected, as well as how to safely travel to and from campus.

The easiest thing a person can do to help ready himself or herself for winter is to be aware of the weather forecast and to stay informed. Checking the weather online is extremely easy, and for those with a smart phone, there are many apps available to keep up to date on current weather conditions. For those who do not have easy access to the internet, radio and television forecasts are generally easy to find. Local morning news will almost always have the day’s weather featured.

As students, it is important to be informed when campus is closed due to inclement weather in order to avoid driving to campus when there will be no classes. Information about the status of campus can be obtained in many ways. As with the weather, local news stations are informed when campus is closed, however, the IU Notify system is the fastest way to be informed about campus closings. Students who have entered their information into the IU Notify system can have email, text, and automated phone call messages sent to let them know when campus will be closed due to an emergency. For those who have not entered their information, but would like to, this can be done at onestart.iu.edu.

All IU Kokomo students have to travel to and from campus, and with heavy snow or ice, it can be dangerous. For students who live farther away, it is possible that conditions may be treacherous where they live, but campus may still be open. In these cases, it is important to stay in touch with your professor and their policies on missing class. While it is never encouraged to miss a class, it is more important for students to stay safe. 

There are times when travel in bad weather cannot be avoided, and it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit in a vehicle for safety, as well as doing regular maintenance. A large duffle bag can be kept in the trunk or in the back and should include: a flashlight, salt or ice melter, gloves, boots, socks, first aid kit, blanket, a piece of bright orange material, and a granola bar or snack. If room allows, a small shovel is also helpful.

While that may seem like a large amount of items that may never be needed, in the event of an emergency, it is possible that they could be lifesavers. More info about winter safety can be found at www.ready.gov/winter.

Story by John Robertson, Staff Writer, Photographer