Agencies like the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Transportation are working with the National Weather Service to prepare for the winter ahead. Sergeant Alex Dinkla says emergency kits are recommended for all motorists and should contain things like blankets, bottled water, power bars, matches and candles, flashlights and batteries, and a weather radio. Dinkla says those kits can be true life-savers.

It’s recommended that motorists install the free “Iowa 511” app on their smartphones, as it can provide a host of information about the roads and conditions, including real-time photos from snowplows.