Surviving in Winter is an entirely different prospect than making it through a survival situation in any other season.

If you are prepared, however, it actually can be easier and more tolerable; here is what you need to focus on in the immediate aftermath.

Essential Tips:

1. Planning: First you have to assemble your kit. If it's mobile, make sure it is in a water proof container or bag.
Lost/stuck first 24 hours …

2. Shelter: If you're in a car, don't leave it. If you're on foot, build a shelter, or find one: Finding shelter is the paramount consideration when stuck in extreme weather.

Hollowed out logs can be cleaned out and enhanced. Caves work as well. Reduced living space equals warmer living space. Beware of occupying animals, consider ventilation.

3. Start a fire: Plan to maintain the fire. Dig a hole, use dry pencil thick branches and ever green limbs as kindling. Ever greens burn fast and hot.
Fuel should be thicker limbs that have broken off a tree. Found near the ground, but not submerged in snow.

Second 24 hours …

4. Find water: Nearby lakes and rivers are great, snow and ice will do. Ice is better because it has a higher water content for volume.

5. Conserve food: Given that you told people where you were going, they'll be out looking for you within a day or so. Catching food in the wild is not difficult though.
550 cord (or better yet, fishing line, if any is handy) can be used for snares. Paper clips, hairpins and sewing kits all yield hasty fishing hooks.

It is also important to constantly improve your situation and environment; do not stop improving once you have the basics complete.

A Winter survival situation can surprise you, but if you are prepared beforehand and know what to do, you can make it through with relative ease.

For a list of supplies you should always have on hand, please visit Business Insider.