Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth in wake of storm
This triggered two thoughts for me.<p>First, how much of a killer the cold is. We've moved on from "global warming" to "climate change" language but there are a lot of places in the world that would be grateful for a few degree temperature rise (such as Latvia where I am from). Today, cold kills hundreds of thousands of people a year, while "heat deaths" are limited to geriatrics in the "first world."<p>Second, preparedness. Most urbanites and suburbanites don't think about the weather beyond high energy bills. But it's good to pay attention to the fact that if it's 20 degrees or less out (as it is today in NY) and power or gas goes out, your dwelling is going to get real cold real fast. What's your plan? In our case we have a fireplace which is mainly decorative (it doesn't actually warm the house up beyond the immediate radiant heat) but if shit hits the fan, we got firewood enough to huddle up by this fireplace for a few days. Hopefully will never have to rely on it but you kinda have to plan for some infrastructure failings at inconvenient times.<p>To connect the thoughts together - here, it's not totally uncommon to lose power. When it happens in the summer, it's inconvenient - you are sweaty and hot. If it happens in the winter, there's real risk of death.