For many students at Iowa State, navigating the snow and ice that come with Iowa winters is nothing new. They’ve dealt with inclement weather and harsh travel conditions for as long as they can remember.

But for our fellow students who didn’t grow up in the Midwest, winter travel is something they haven’t had to deal with before coming to college. Some student have never even seen snow before, let alone have to navigate a vehicle through a whiteout.

With that in mind, here are some tips and tricks to help students make their way between Ames and home over the next several months more safe.

If you fly into and out of Des Moines and hire transportation to and from Ames, there’s not much that you can do regarding your travel. Airlines can navigate some pretty inclement weather, but ultimately will cancel flights if the conditions demand such.

Plan time for delays if you are going to be flying into or out of a snow storm. Bring a book or movie to the airport to help pass the time. Don’t stress too much. The situation is pretty much out of your control. Trust that the airline is doing all that it can to get you where you want to go.

If you drive a vehicle between Ames and home, your situation can become much more stressful and dangerous. Black ice, unplowed roads and poor visibility can lead to accidents if drivers don’t heed warnings or pilot their vehicle safely.

For starters, watch the weather and try to travel when the weather will be nice. Sometimes that means waiting a day and letting the storm pass and the roads get cleared.

If you have to drive during a storm or find yourself unexpectedly caught in one, relax. Vehicles can drive through winter conditions.

If you can see the road in front of you and feel comfortable, continue on, but remember these tips. Reduce your speed. Don’t follow other vehicles closely. Understand how your vehicle is going to react if you hit an ice patch or one of your tires loses traction.

If you can’t see the road, or don’t feel comfortable driving in the difficult conditions, don’t worry. Try to find a town where you can stop and wait out the storm. If you can’t make it to a town, pull over at an intersection or somewhere where other traffic can easily see you.

Despite defensive driving and precautionary behavior, you may still find yourself in a difficult situation. Be prepared. Keep hand warmers and a blanket in your vehicle. Have an ice scraper and maybe even a bottle of de-icer on hand. Consider keeping a sandbag in your trunk for increased traction.

If you do find yourself in the ditch, remain calm. If you are unharmed, attempt to drive out of the ditch. Try not to spin your tires. Sprinkle some sand in front of your drive wheels. Accept help; many Iowans carry chains in their trucks or SUVs and might be able to pull you out.

Navigating snowy conditions can be stressful. It’s best to avoid the situation altogether, but if you must brave the elements, be prepared, remain calm and drive slow.