For this edition, I should add another info :

-20°C / -4°F

And yet, it is the warmest day of the last 3
and the coldest of the next 3.

But unfortunately, the worst is not behind.

This ice storm didn’t just freeze the roads, your bones, and daily life; it froze the power lines feeding your neighborhood.

It’s been a few hours now since the power went out in your home.

Knowing that the municipality has opened a warming center a few miles away,

your partner leaves you no other choice:
​“Let’s go.”

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1. Before leaving your house, if you could only do one thing:

A] Unplug sensitive electronics

B] Leave all faucets slightly dripping to prevent frozen pipes

C] Grab extra warm clothes, don’t care about the house

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Garage door opening, keys in the ignition, heater blasting you, make your way toward the main road.

It’s only a 10-minute drive to reach the library turned into a warming center.

At least… under normal conditions.

Today, your worst enemy is waiting outside.

Lurking in the shadows, everywhere around you and above all, invisible: black ice.

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2. How do you spot black ice?

A] If the road looks “wet” but you can’t tell if it’s a puddle of water or not

B] When your headlights hit the pavement and the reflection looks dull instead of shiny

C] If the road looks slightly foggy or dusty from a distance

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Halfway up, your wheels have already slipped twice, but nothing serious, just a scare.

I wouldn’t say you’re gaining confidence…

But maybe just enough to lower your guard a little.

Still driving slowly, it’s not your wheels sliding that you feel now, it’s them locking up.

Your front right wheel leaves the road and sinks into the snow.

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3. What do you do?

A] Step out and try to clear some snow away from the stuck wheel

B] Try some acceleration to see if the wheels catch

C] Stay in the car with hazard lights on

🔍 Your Choices

Let’s review each decision.

​

1. Before leaving your house, if you could only do one thing:

A] Unplug sensitive electronics ​ +2

B] Leave all faucets slightly dripping to prevent frozen pipes +1

C] Grab extra warm clothes, don’t care about the house +3

Unplugging sensitive electronics is a very good idea to protect them from power surges when electricity comes back on.

Sometimes, leaving faucets slightly open can help prevent pipes from freezing. But only if local authorities recommend it, as it isn’t always necessary.

But if you can only do one thing before leaving, it should be thinking about yourself and the people with you.

It’s essential to bring more layers than you think you’ll need.

In case you end up… stuck on the road…

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2. How do you spot black ice?

A] If the road looks “wet” but you can’t tell if it’s a puddle of water or not +3

B] When your headlights hit the pavement and the reflection looks dull instead of shiny +1

C] If the road seems slightly foggy or dusty from a distance ​ +1

All 3 conditions can indicate a road that may be slippery.

But a surface that looks dull or dusty offers no certainty.

Black ice is transparent. It doesn’t sparkle or look frosted.

It lets the asphalt show through, creating the illusion of a wet surface.

So if you can’t tell whether it’s a puddle of water or not, assume it isn’t.

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3. What do you do?

A] Step out and try to clear some snow away from the stuck wheel +1

B] Try some acceleration to see if the wheels catch +2

C] Stay in the car with hazard lights on ​ +3

Obviously, the first reaction is to try a few accelerations to see if we can get out, but they must be very gentle.

If the first attempts don’t work, don’t insist!

The safest option is to stay in the car with the hazard lights on.

Notify emergency services of your location.

Then, keep warm by using the heater in cycles (10–15 minutes on / 10–15 minutes off) to conserve fuel

⚖️ The Verdict

Add up your points and see where you stand.

​

3–4 points → You are probably frozen to death.

👉 Your decisions exposed you to the worst risks. In a real scenario, your chances of survival would be minimal. But probably your house will be okay 🙂

5–6 points → You are lucky this time.

👉 Your choices weren’t the best, but with some luck you might have made it. Don’t count on luck next time.

7–9 points → You put the odds on your side.

👉 You applied the right reflexes. Nothing is guaranteed with Nature, but you maximized your chances of getting through with a little warmth left.