This is a story of the January 12, 1888 blizzard as experienced by families living in ten locations along the storm's route. The storm struck suddenly and caught people off guard as it trailed through the Great Plains of Canada, the United States, and Territories. Many found ingenious ways to reach safety and/or pass the time while waiting for the storm to subside. Family stories are capsulized in a poem preceding the ten stand-alone chapters. Tying the chapters together is the common thread of experiencing the storm's fury. People of all ages will identify with elements of decision-making.