TOPS Bunker: The Original Prepper Survivalist Podcast

178 Stranded In a Winter Storm - Overcoming a Survival Nightmare

• Keith Otworth & Rhonda Triggs • Season 7 • Episode 178

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TOPS BUNKER PODCAST

Winter Storm Survival Scenario

Stranded in a Winter Storm

The visit with friends had been a rare reprieve, a slice of normalcy amidst the whirlwind of work, kids, and endless responsibilities. As the laughter and conversation wound down, an alert buzzed on your phone, piercing the evening like a warning bell... Winter Storm Warning.

You glanced out the window. Snowflakes drifted lazily at first, but something in your gut, tightened. "We should head home," you told your wife, already calculating the hours to reach the kids and the babysitter. The look on her face mirrored your own unease, and within minutes, you were saying your goodbyes, promising to visit again soon.

By the time you filled up at the gas station, the storm had turned serious. The snow swirled chaotically, driven by a merciless northern wind. As the icy flakes pelted the windshield, you muttered, “This is going to be fun,” masking your rising dread with bravado. A glance into the back of your SUV reassured you. The winter Go Bag, a product of Buddy’s advice on the TOPs Bunker Podcast… Was there and at the ready. You felt a small pang of gratitude for your own preparedness. I am SO awesome.

But that gratitude turned to tension, as the interstate transformed into a battlefield of skidded vehicles. Headlights vanished into the blinding snow, and horns blared their futile warnings. After 45 agonizing minutes of standstill, you made a snap decision to exit and take your chances on back roads. "We’ll bypass this mess," you said, trying to sound extra confident.

The local roads were unfamiliar. Their twists and turns are obscured by snowdrifts and fading daylight. The SUV crept forward like a blind animal feeling its way in the storm. When you pulled over to retrieve the map from your Go Bag, the bitter cold bit through your coat. Then it happened. A treacherous patch of ice sent you sprawling into the pavement. The crack of your head against the door echoed in your ears, and as you clambered back into the car, dazed and bleeding, your wife's panicked voice cut through the fog in your mind.

“Are you okay? You’re bleeding!”

“I’m fine,” you insisted, though the pounding in your skull begged to differ.

Whiteout conditions descended like a shroud, erasing the world beyond the windshield. The road vanished beneath a blanket of swirling snow, and every mile stretched into eternity. Your head throbbed, and just as your grip on the wheel tightened, a blur appeared in the headlights as the frightened deer stood frozen in the middle of the road.

Your instinct took over. You swerved hard, tires screaming against the icy road. The SUV skidded, and in an instant, you plunged into a shallow, snow-choked creek. The impact jarred your teeth, and for a moment, everything went still, all but the hum of the engine struggling against its wounds.

Your wife’s voice broke the silence, trembling. “Oh my God! Did that just happen? What do we do now?”

You climbed out the window, the cold slicing through your clothes. The SUV sat at an awkward angle, front end crumpled, wheels half-buried in snow and mud. The damage was bad. Too bad. Even with four-wheel drive engaged, the vehicle wouldn’t budge.

Panic clawed at the edges of your mind as you slid back into the car. Your wife’s tears mirrored the storm outside, and every second felt heavier. "We’ll call for help," you said, more to convince yourself than her.

The phone’s screen glowed dimly, a fragile lifeline in the encroaching darkness. But as you dialed for a tow truck, a grim thought struck you. How long before they get here? And how long before the storm buries us?

The howl of the wind was your only answer.


Jeremy Winter Survival Action Plan

What to do before you leave?
1. Backwards plan by doing the following:
a. Check the weather
b. PCC/PCI (Pre combat checks / Pre combat inspections)
c. Keep the car half full to full beforehand. Make it a habit.
d. Make sure other people know where you are going and when you are headed
back.
e. Do you have a get home bag???
2. What should you already be wearing?
a. Clothing with loft.
b. Under garments that
c. Avoid tight layers.
d. Head/Ear protection.
e. Gloves
f. Good thick socks that offer moisture wicking.
g. Good booths that offer moisture wicking. (Gortex).
Remember this acronym:
C – Keeping clothing Clean
O – Avoid Overheating
L – Wear clothing Loose and Layered
D – Keep clothing Dry
3. What to keep in your car as the seasons change from the warm months to winter:
a. Water (insulated to keep from getting frozen).
b. Easy to manage food (power bars, protein bars, nutrient dense snacks.
c. First aid / trauma kit.
d. Power brick
e. Shovel, pick ax, folding saw.
f. Blankets, small sleeping system
g. Extra clothing
h. Kitty litter or ice melt pellets.
i. Plastic sheeting and tape.
j. Light source and back up power/batteries.
k. Battery powered or traditional road flares.
l. Jumper cables.
m. Portable air compressor and fix-a-flat.
n. Tool kit.
o. Tow strap/chains.
p. NOTE-The normal change a flat kit that comes standard is usually sub standard
or difficult to use. Get a good 4-point lug wrench.

4. What to do if you get stuck:
a. Stay in your vehicle. Your car offers the best protection from the weather and
from collisions with other vehicles.
b. If possible, call 911. Stay in your car until help arrives.
c. Keep fresh air in your car by slightly opening your window.
d. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked and run your engine periodically for
heat.
e. Keep your flashers on, and if you have any, set up flares. Do everything possible
to make your car visible in the snow.
f. Stay warm by putting on a hat and extra clothing or blanket from your emergency
kit.
g. If you need to wait for an extended period of time, drink water to stay hydrated.
h. Conserve your cell phone battery by using it only when necessary.
i. Do small exercises with your arms and legs. It is important to keep your blood
circulating and not stay in one position too long.
j. Stay focused and motivated. It is easy to start feeling hopeless, which can lead to
panic or depression.



People on this episode

Head Shot

Keith Otworth

Host
Head Shot

Rhonda Triggs

Host
Contributor

Buddy

Co-host
Contributor

Jeremy

Co-host