Day 242: Prepare Yourself, it's Going to Snow . . . an Inch

We North Carolineans are in the throes of a major winter storm. By major I mean a forecasted one to two inches and possibly some sleet. The mountain areas are definitely in for some real snow, but I’d hardly scroll weather alerts on TV every fifteen minutes and start the panic three days in advance, even for snow in a warm weather climate. At some point, it’s just all too much and a little common sense should enter into it. Unfortunately, that has not happened. Instead, we are mid-panic for pretty much nothing.

There was some snow this evening in Charlotte, but it wasn’t sticking and it’s hardly notable even for here. Just because there is snow falling does not mean the roads are instantly dangerous, so please stop driving like your tires are made of glass. In Fort Bragg, NC it has not begun snowing yet and is not predicted to snow until after midnight. This did not stop the military base from shutting down at 3pm. Yes, 3pm!!! They closed things up ten hours before snow is even PREDICTED! Schools, offices, all closed because it might snow a inch or two at some point when everyone will be home in bed.

This evening as the husband and I were discussing the mass hysteria, we saw a news report in which it was reported that road crews were out “preparing” for the snow as early as Wednesday. They showed footage of salt trucks coating the roads in the middle of a sunny day, a full two days before we were due to get any snow at all. In fact yesterday it was 62 and sunny and the roads were apparently already salted. I think I understand why the roads department here is so over budget. It doesn’t really help to “prepare” the roads when it’s warm and sunny out. The salt will melt and/or get blown off the road long before any cold weather activity happens.

I get that people here aren’t used to it and my beef isn’t with the drivers, it’s with the newscasters, weathermen, town officials and road crews who play into all the over-hyped winter storm chaos. It’s not a storm, it’s barely winter and it certainly does not merit closing schools and workplaces well before any weather is expected. You don’t need to stock up on milk and bread for snow that will be around for a day or two at most and you don’t need to prep roads days in advance. Save money, time and worry by acting logically and appropriately. I don’t want to keep having to hate the South, but they keep proving they are as stupid and backwards as everyone jokes they are. I hope they have snowblowers at Target, I need to prepare for the storm.