Already seated? About becoming housebound? Or are they in the process of “digging out”? Then it’s a big “DAMN YES” to keep a close eye on where you left off. Whether you own a home or rent an apartment, house or visit your cabin. There is one area that is almost always overlooked. And this is a serious area.

We are used to watching water pipes. If we smell sewer, check the sewer hole to make sure it’s not frozen. Whether you live in northern states such as North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana or South Dakota, our vehicles are securely tucked away in garages or stores. If left outside, the block heaters are also connected. (And if you don’t have a heater, you’ve learned how to park your car in a way that will hopefully help get you started.)

This may surprise you, it surprised us until the many snowstorms of 2022. Both of us, West River born and raised, North Dakota ranch kids, thought we knew it all. Well, that’s when it came to Winter Survival, dressed up like Jedi, always ready to take on what looks like Planet Hoth. We found out, we didn’t know all this.

Having moved a lot of snow during blizzards over the years, just think about snow in 2022. It never occurred to us to check out this place. These are the natural gas meter and the oven ventilation zone(s). Of course, after a friend reached out, knowing our cabin had the hardest time keeping us warm. We have been told that MDU encourages customers to keep an eye on the natural gas meter and building ventilation areas.

WHAT!?! Sure enough, there we found that ours was over five feet under the drift. After a few words of desperation, the place was cleared and the stove started working properly again. Now this solved the problem 100%? No, but it definitely affected not only the operation of our oven, but also the performance of the water heater. In 2022, the MDU issued a statement saying that the meter and oven vent area must be inspected and cleared of snow and ice. In addition, it is imperative that anyone who works with snowplows is aware of everything that can be buried under the snow. CLICK HERE to read the full MDU statement. Stay safe crew members and check with your utility providers for the best recommendations for your area during the season.

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VIEW: The Most Extreme Temperatures in Each State’s History

Stucker consulted NOAA’s 2021 State Committee on Extreme Events (SCEC) data to illustrate the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded in each state. Each slide also shows the highest recorded rainfall in 24 hours and the highest snowfall in 24 hours.

Keep reading to find individual state records in alphabetical order.

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