The weather is beginning to warm up and the melting snowfall needs some place to go.

A lot of the water will be absorbed into the ground. But if it melts too quickly, the water will accumulate in areas with the least amount of resistance, such as a basement or downhill area. There are a few ways to help prevent flooding in basements and in turn keep the byproducts, such as mold, away from your family.

Keep your gutters clear: Gutters that haven’t been cleared of gunk or debris will not help guide water away from your home. Downspouts help divert water away from the foundation of your home. But if the water pools under the foundation of your home, it can change the leveling of your foundation and cause all sorts of problems in the future. The bottom line: clean gutters keep the water away from your home.

Check your pipes: A small crack can leak up to 250 gallons per day. Keep track of your water usage month to month. If there is a significant increase in water usage, there is a good chance there is a crack in your pipes. Plumbers are pretty reasonable when checking for broken pipes, so don’t hesitate to call them if you suspect a leak. To prevent pipes from freezing, you can leave a warm water drip on nights that have freeze warnings.

Fix foundation cracks: If your home has been around for a few years, there is a good chance that the foundation has settled a little and there might be cracks forming. Fixing these cracks can help protect your basement from flooding.

Window well covers: Many houses that have basements will have window wells to help focus the light into the underground areas. Even though these are aesthetically pleasing to those who are in the basement, it also tends to focus water to certain areas of the foundation. There are window well covers that are transparent and can help guide water away from the house without giving up light for the basement. They are reasonably priced and worth keeping your basement clear of water.

Location: Homes that are on lower elevations or near runoff areas are likely to have some sort of flooding. Sandbags can help direct the flow of water away from your house while keeping your basement dry. If you aren’t sure whether you are in a heavy flooding area, do some research to gain a better understanding of how water affects your area.

Moisture can affect your house in many ways. If you are aware of the ways to keep water away, you can keep your house nice and dry.

Flood hazard information can be found at www.pocatello.us/265/Flood-Hazard-Information. It is a helpful site that details the assistance to those who live in floodplain areas.

The weather is beginning to warm up and the melting snowfall needs some place to go.

A lot of the water will be absorbed into the ground. But if it melts too quickly, the water will accumulate in areas with the least amount of resistance, such as a basement or downhill area. There are a few ways to help prevent flooding in basements and in turn keep the byproducts, such as mold, away from your family.

Keep your gutters clear: Gutters that haven’t been cleared of gunk or debris will not help guide water away from your home. Downspouts help divert water away from the foundation of your home. But if the water pools under the foundation of your home, it can change the leveling of your foundation and cause all sorts of problems in the future. The bottom line: clean gutters keep the water away from your home.

Check your pipes: A small crack can leak up to 250 gallons per day. Keep track of your water usage month to month. If there is a significant increase in water usage, there is a good chance there is a crack in your pipes. Plumbers are pretty reasonable when checking for broken pipes, so don’t hesitate to call them if you suspect a leak. To prevent pipes from freezing, you can leave a warm water drip on nights that have freeze warnings.

Fix foundation cracks: If your home has been around for a few years, there is a good chance that the foundation has settled a little and there might be cracks forming. Fixing these cracks can help protect your basement from flooding.

Window well covers: Many houses that have basements will have window wells to help focus the light into the underground areas. Even though these are aesthetically pleasing to those who are in the basement, it also tends to focus water to certain areas of the foundation. There are window well covers that are transparent and can help guide water away from the house without giving up light for the basement. They are reasonably priced and worth keeping your basement clear of water.

Location: Homes that are on lower elevations or near runoff areas are likely to have some sort of flooding. Sandbags can help direct the flow of water away from your house while keeping your basement dry. If you aren’t sure whether you are in a heavy flooding area, do some research to gain a better understanding of how water affects your area.

Moisture can affect your house in many ways. If you are aware of the ways to keep water away, you can keep your house nice and dry.

Flood hazard information can be found at www.pocatello.us/265/Flood-Hazard-Information. It is a helpful site that details the assistance to those who live in floodplain areas.

More snowstorms are in the forecast and staying safe at home and at work is extremely important.

Ice is one of the hardest things to deal with when snow comes around. However, preventing slips and falls, as well as getting rid of ice, can be easy.

To get rid of ice on the sidewalks or walkways, use the following ingredients:

• 6 drops Dawn Dish Soap
• 2 oz of rubbing alcohol
• 1/2 gallon warm water

Mix together in a gallon milk jug. You can add the mixture to a spray bottle to handle it easier. You don’t need the whole jug to do the job. It keeps your walkways clear and won’t eat away at the concrete over time.

Ice cleats: There are ice cleats for your shoes. They wrap around your boots and are easy to slip on and off. They provide extra traction and keep your loved ones safe.

Icicles: Do not wander under the icicles when they are beginning to drip. They can crash down easily and hurt people quite easily.

Trust yourself: You know what your body can handle. Do not push yourself to get everything done right off the bat. It can do more harm than good. Take breaks when shoveling snow and clearing up icy areas.

Keep people in the loop: If you are planning on traveling, keep your family members in the loop. Let them know your timeline and what route you will take. If you are working with groups of people, I recommend checking the emergency plans for your building.

Keep a work and car kit snow ready: Keep some granola bars and munchies that will not freeze in your car. This way you can keep food in your car in case you get stuck. During emergency situations, responders can take a while to get to your position.

Car Heater: There is a way to keep a heater in your car without your battery getting bogged down.

1. Take a roll of toilet paper, small and large clean paint cans, and a bottle of rubbing alcohol.
2. Remove the cardboard center from the toilet paper and stuff the paper in the small paint can.
3. Douse the toilet roll in the rubbing alcohol until it is completely saturated. Place the lid on the small paint can. (Don’t worry it won’t freeze in your car. Alcohol has a lower freezing temperature than water.)

If you get stuck, you can light the toilet roll to keep warm — just place the small can into the larger can to keep it from burning the area around it. When you light the toilet paper in the small can, you can use the lid to keep the flame at a reasonable size. When you light this in your car, you must open your window a crack to let the carbon monoxide escape the car. This is quite a handy little trick and will keep you warm until help arrives.

These tricks are quite easy to work on and experiment with. Give them a try and see what works for you. This winter has been quite different from the previous few years, and many people might have forgotten these tricks. Be safe in the snow.

Emily Thornton is an English Teacher at Pocatello High School and is working on her Master’s Degree at Idaho State University.

In the past few days, we have seen the extremes of East Idaho weather. Icy roads, below freezing temperatures and snow are just a few of the things we have seen so far this winter season.

Ready.gov is a website that FEMA has put together to help families stay prepared during a crisis. This helps the populace avoid calamities during extreme weather as well as helping FEMA keep tabs on those who have followed the rules.

Here are a few tips for residents when snowstorms and extreme cold strike.

Stay indoors during the storm: If you have to work outside in the cold, make sure you wear layers that wick sweat away from your body. You can get hypothermia very quickly if sweaty layers are near the body.

Walk carefully on the snowy, icy walkways: There are some interesting inventions out there that can help you walk on snowy icy walkways. They have spikes (they look more like snow chains for tires) for your shoes, which you can put on the soles to help you stay vertical during the snowy weather.

Stay dry: Wet clothing saps the heat away from your body. If you have little ones, it is recommended to change their snow suits quickly because they have trouble regulating their body temperature.

Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow: Shoveling snow has been known to cause heart attacks in winter. Use caution by taking breaks and push the snow instead of lifting it. If the snow is really wet, try a brush or a snow blower instead. With Idaho winters the way they are, it would be a smart purchase to get a snow blower. Chat with your neighbors and see if they would be willing to share costs with you and you can take turns. You never know how much it could help your neighbors out.

Frostbite: Watch out for frostbite. Loss of feeling and pale skin can be a signifier of frostbite. Cover the exposed skin but do not rub. Seek medical attention immediately.

Hypothermia: If the person’s temperature is below 95 degrees, seek medical attention immediately. Get to a warm location.

Remove the wet clothing and warm the larger portions of the body first. Give warm beverages to the victim if conscious. If you are unsure whether it is frostbite or hypothermia, it is recommended to get medical attention for both. If not treated quickly, the condition could get serious very quickly.

Drive only if necessary: Don’t travel alone and make sure others know your schedule. Avoid the back roads and stay on the main roads. Travel in the day because black ice is common when night has come.

There are a lot of things you can do to stay warm and content during extreme cold. If you follow many of these suggestions, you can keep yourself and loved ones safe and secure.

While searching for food that can be utilized in survival situations, you’ll realize that powdered milk is the most expensive foodstuff. The prices can range anywhere from $10 to $100 depending on the amounts.

Canned milk has a 2-year shelf life, while dehydrated milk can last up to 20 years. Even though some people think it is impossible, you can dehydrate milk at home. It is an arduous task but it is worth the time.

Instructions

Dehydrating milk is possible if you have the plastic dehydrating tray inserts (or fruit roll-up trays).

Place the inserts on each tray of your machine.

Then pour one cup of milk onto each tray. It takes a steady hand to do this because the trays aren’t very tall.

Depending on your machine, the temperature that is recommended to dehydrate milk is around 135 degrees. If this is your first time dehydrating milk, I would recommend only doing two trays to ensure your temperature settings are correct. Five trays of milk will take approximately 12 hours.

After the 12 hours has finished, the milk will have hardened and cracked into multiple pieces. Toss these pieces into your blender or food processor to turn into a fine powder.

You can vacuum seal your dehydrated milk to enhance its shelf life. There are some incredible vacuum sealers on the market. One is on sale at CostCo for around $130. They are worth the price because of its varied uses.

Reconstituting

13 teaspoons of dehydrated milk powder will equal one cup of reconstituted milk. Add 1 tablespoon of hot water to your powder. It can have a muddy quality when you reconstitute it.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of hot water to it gradually until you get the consistency you want.

Purchased Whey Milk

The whey milk on the market is actually a bit cheaper than regular cow’s milk that has been dehydrated. It is a lighter taste and texture (for those of us who like skim milk).

Whey milk is usually available in packets instead of the regular loose powder in the large buckets. This is a great option because it keeps your stock from being reintroduced to air every time you need milk. It lasts for up to 20 years as well.

Ranges of pricing from stores:

On Amazon.com, I found Nonfat dry milk 25.6 oz for $9.31.

Hoosier Hill Farm has 1 pound of dry whole milk powder for $11.39.

Augason Farm Dehydrated Nonfat Milk (which can be purchased at Ridleys) is $17.39 for a 1-pound can.

Augason Farm (Merry Moo’s Chocolate Milk Alternative) is $19.79 for a 1-pound can.

I would recommend trying to dehydrate your milk on your own. It will save money, and even though it is a long task, it is worth it.

Emily Thornton is an English Teacher at Pocatello High School and is working on her Master’s Degree at Idaho State University.