The High Country, as well as many parts of the United States, are expecting a “major winter storm” this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Ray’s Weather, a local service which had initially downplayed the storm, updated its forecast to call for a “bitter” storm with ice, sleet and freezing rain.
App State announced that campus would operate under Condition 2 starting on Saturday at noon, meaning that non-mandatory staff are not expected to come to campus.
With all of the chaos surrounding this storm, staying safe is the top priority in Boone. Planning ahead for this weekend can help mitigate uncertainties like travel, shelter, food, heat and supplies.
First and foremost, the most reliable method of staying safe is avoiding the storm entirely. If possible, leaving Boone on Friday will ensure safety during the worst of the weather. Roads will likely be impassable through the weekend due to ice and sleet, so Friday is the only chance to travel.
To stay in Boone, a warm, reliable shelter is essential. On-campus housing will be operational during the storm. Facility operations will function as best as possible, including central heating. App State offers tips to keep dorms safe during winter storms. Many of the risks around these storms have to do with carbon monoxide poisoning from open flame devices, which are prohibited on campus.
If a shelter does lose heating, make sure to have enough warm clothes and blankets at the ready. This means doing laundry while power is still operational.
Food is essential for this weekend. If grocery stores become unreliable, the Mountaineer Food Hub has a network of food pantries around campus.
Stocking up on resources like food and power banks is about more than just what can be found in Walmart or Publix. Running water can be under threat during extreme freezing conditions. One way to get around this is by filling up a bathtub while the building still has running water. This can be used for cooking and toilets. Plumbing is often at risk during freezing conditions, but keeping cabinet doors under sinks open can help avoid this.
Cabin fever is something to consider. This weekend will not bring a fluffy, chaste winter wonderland. Boone will be icy and dark with near-zero temperatures. Boone will be more or less out of commission — the safest thing to do is to shelter in place. To keep one’s mind off the cold without electricity, curl up with a book, check out a jigsaw puzzle from the library, spend time with loved ones and stay safe.
