Yoopers have certainly been blessed with unseasonably warm temperatures for a large portion of this winter. However, Mother Nature has brought a return to normalcy in Superiorland this week.

The American Red Cross has issued a list of precautionary measures to consider when blizzard conditions strike. A few of these tips are:

≤ Avoid travel if you can.

≤ If you must go outside, plan to dress properly. Keep your nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers and toes covered in warm, dry clothing. These areas are the first to be at risk for frostbite.

≤ Wear layers of loose clothing, a coat, hat, mittens, and water-resistant boots. Use a scarf to cover your face and mouth.

≤ Know where you will go if your home becomes too cold. You could go to a friend’s house, a public library or a warming center.

The website also states that preparing an emergency kit before the storm hits is always a good idea.

≤ Gather food, water and medicine before a winter storm. Stores might be closed, and it may be unsafe to travel.

≤ Organize supplies into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit:

≤ Go-kit: at least three days of supplies you can carry with you if you need to go somewhere else to stay warm. Include critical backup batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)

≤ Stay-at-home kit: at least two weeks of supplies

≤ You may lose access to drinking water. Set aside at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day.

≤ Consider having emergency supplies in your vehicle, such as a blanket, warm clothing, a first aid kit and boots.

≤ Have a 1-month supply of needed medications and medical supplies. Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you.

Many of these are very simple steps that can be the difference between safe and sorry.