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Horseshoe Nails & Bowhead Whales
with Bill Gawor
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
After the eightday blizzard in Rankin Inlet, it felt strange to see the flat tundra on the outskirts of town practically bare of snow.
It seemed as if every flake had been swept off the barrens and hurled at the giant wooden snow fence that flanks Rankin's west side.
Here it was only January, and already more than a full winter's stockpile of snow lay in huge drifts to the leeward side of the fence.
Nevertheless, with the major onslaught of the blizzard checked at the fence, the community was still buried in snow and brought to a standstill for more than a week.
All offices, schools, businesses and our airstrip were closed.
Only the grocery and convenience stores tried to open for a few hours each day to accommodate desperate smokers and emergency needs.
For the most part Northerners take such blizzards in stride, but there is still the odd surprise. In many cases huge snowdrifts completely bury doorways and cause the inhabitants some concern, especially with doors that swing outwards.
In such situations, the door-hinge pins have to be knocked off, the door removed and the wall of snow blocking the entrance attacked.
And that's if you have a shovel and a plastic tarp handy.
By dumping the snow onto the tarp, it can then be bundled off to melt in the bathtub.
So keep your shovel and tarp inside the house as part of your blizzard emergency kit.
Conserve fuel and water during a blizzard, as it's anybody's guess when the roads will open for water and fuel delivery.
Close off the heat vents to rooms not being used and lower the thermostat.
The hot-water tank can always be drained of a few gallons for emergency use, but be sure to turn off the heat first.
Your first-aid kit should have an extra supply of any prescription medication you may be using. For emergency water, have dozens of two litre plastic pop bottles stashed, along with comfort food such as cookies, dried fruit and hard candy to wile away the time.
Label them with a date and replace them every six months.
Should you be lucky enough to have a wood stove, have the wood handy inside the house.
Should the power fail, get out the sleeping bags and cuddle up together.
Have fun camping indoors by candle light and cooking on the Coleman stove, but remember to maintain ventilation and keep flammable objects far from an open flame.
The idea is to be ready and self-sufficient for at least a week, stay calm and don't freak out. This means food, water, first aid and sanitation have to be available and ready for use.
It's every household's responsibility to protect themselves first, then come to the aid of others if need be.
Like all blizzards, this one will eventually become a memory as time goes past.
But out on the tundra, it looks like there will be a run on ski rods due to a lack of snow.