For people who can hunker down in a warm home, weekends like this past one are not so bad.

If you could wait to shovel out your car until Monday morning and stocked your pantry with chicken noodle soup ahead of time, it was easy to decide to stay inside.

But for the parent of a sick child who needs care, the care provider who shows up for others no matter the weather or for someone who cannot afford a night in a hotel, not traveling does not always feel like an option.

Your best friend for winters like this is preparation.

• Know what you are getting into. Minnesota and Iowa both have interactive 511 travel maps that allow you to see road conditions and closures across the state. You can also use the apps to see recent still images taken from snowplow cameras and traffic cameras along your route. To find the free apps, visit your app store and look for Minnesota 511 and Iowa 511. Other states are also available.

• Make a winter survival kit. Place your kit in the main cabin of your car, in case your trunk becomes inaccessible. Inside a coffee can or plastic container, put a whistle, snacks, a plastic flashlight and spare batteries, small candles and matches, a sharp knife, a red bandana, pencil and paper, jumper cables, a rope (this can help you find your way back to your vehicle should you exit), sand or cat litter, a shovel, sleeping bag or blankets, road flares or reflectors, heavy boots, a cellphone charging adapter, safety pins and a large plastic garbage bag. Also consider an external power bank, charged up, should you need to turn off your car or should your battery die.

• Put it on, just in case. Even if you are just running down the street or to the store, take your hat, scarf and mittens or gloves — even if you leave them on the seat beside you. Wear warm footwear. Better to have it than to need it.

• Keep a go bag. If you travel somewhere and the weather looks dicey, throw a toothbrush and some PJs into a bag. Give yourself permission (and ask for permission) to sleep on a friend’s couch rather than risk it on the road.

• Do your homework. The Department of Public Safety has many recommendations on how to react to emergency situations, including a winter safety checklist for travel. Visit https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/weather-awareness-preparedness/Pages/winter-driving.aspx

Thank you to our first responders and Minnesota National Guard members who cared for stranded motorists this weekend.