Dear Mid-Atlantic: Mainer's Guide to Surviving a Blizzard

New Englanders know how to handle snow - especially after last winter. But some of the areas on the East Coast that are expected to get hit the hardest by this weekend's blizzard are less used to giant mounds of snow.

With that in mind, the Bangor, Maine, Police Department posted a list of tips for dealing with wild winter weather on its Facebook page on Thursday. The account is run by Sgt. Tim Cotton, who is known for his wry sense of humor.

 
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Dear Mid-Atlantic of these United States of America.I think we all knew it could happen. Every year when you pack up...

Posted by Bangor Maine Police Department on Thursday, January 21, 2016

Sgt. Cotton clearly enjoyed poking fun New England's neighbor's to the south, providing advice - some serious, some less so - on how to survive the weekend.

Among his tips?

  • "Don't panic. It's just frozen rain. It does go away so don't try to move too much at one time."
  • "DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT buy all the bread on the shelves. As a lifelong Mainer, I recommend cereal. No better reason has ever been invented to eat Golden Crisp, Honeycomb or Captain Crunch (don't get the peanut butter flavored. That stuff sucks.) You will need milk and of course a bowl and spoon. You probably already have that in the house. I have lived for several weeks on only Rice Crispies and Snickers."
  • "Charge your Cellphone. If you have a generator, you need gas. You look stupid trying to start a generator with no gas in it. Don't ask me how I know. Do not run the generator inside a basement or garage. Yes, people do that. Usually only one time."
  • "Toilets flush without electricity. If you fill your tub with water, you can use it for all kinds of things, including flushing the toilet. Also, to wash cereal bowls."
  • "Fill your car up with gas. If you get stuck somewhere and have to run the car, make sure you clean out around the tail pipe and do not fall asleep with the car running. We need you to come back next summer to buy more lobster and lobster traps. Pine cones are free."
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