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Original poster

To love all the snow hysteria?

217 replies

crackerjacket · 01/03/2018 15:46

Just that really.

OP posts:
winglesspegasus · 01/03/2018 17:07

hysteria is probably a poor choice of word.
that being said;this storm has been on the forecast for 3 weeks.
being unprepared,is insane.the govt should have had things in place to cope.extra help for those at risk.sand /salt brought in to keep roads dry.extra food in stores.law inforcement- when on down time knock on doors to be sure you have what you need.there a county sheriffs office that you can register with if you are elderly/disabled/very pregnant or at risk of any kind.like needing insulin or oxygen tanks.
this is all common sense people.
for example when a storm is coming we stock pile food,we have hospital personel come in early.rescue teams are called in and get things like 4x4s ready.
our reserve military also prepares to help.if the forecast is so dire its life threatening we bring the at risk closer to aid.whether its bringing the elderly ndn over to stay or taking a sick/needing treatment/soon to have child person closer to medical facility.
we do not drive for the sake of driving .we already have food medicines,wood for fires etc.ready to go.we fill food grade bottles with water in case things realy freeze up.
lack of preparedness is just hiding your head in the sand-oh it won't happen here.
yes we have fools here to but for the most part people are aware of the world around them and pay afuckintension.

vespertillio · 01/03/2018 17:08

Clearly some people are suffering due to the weather but the OP said she was being light-hearted, some of the responses here are so ill-tempered it is ridiculous. None of you are very likely to starve due to others over-reacting and buying lots of food, it doesn't sound like any of you are in serious danger so why not lighten up? If there is a code red in operation there will probably be fewer car crashes than usual

Basseting · 01/03/2018 17:10

I dont 'take agin' the OP's post either tho.
Some drama llamas are online (some quite funny) and some are just getting on with it :)

Sparklingbrook · 01/03/2018 17:10

It's hard to be lighthearted when you see people struggling with their different situations re the snow.

crackerjacket · 01/03/2018 17:13

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UrgentScurryfunge · 01/03/2018 17:13

It is the most significant snowfall and lowest temperatures for several years (Dec 2010 round here, I spent that month mostly snowed in due to late pregnancy/SPD not being worth the risks of leaving the house on my own and my immobility).

The problem is that there is so much hype about the snow that 9/10 doesn't live up to the prophecies of doom. In this case the warnings have been warranted, but it can be like the boy who cried wolf, it's hard to know how seriously to take heed of the warnings.

The effects of snow can be so localised. What can be a dusting in one place can be enough to be problematic within 10 miles especially if hills are involved.

ifonly4 · 01/03/2018 17:13

We're in the amber zone, had heating on all night and radiator pipe has frozen, the wind at the side of the house is obviously forcing it's way into the boiler as it's making a whirring sound when we get a blast. My Mum is only three miles away, but in a dip - last time we had really bad snow my husband struggled to get near to her property to get stuff to her. I don't find any of this funny for any of us, and there are many people out there with far worse.

movpov · 01/03/2018 17:13

You have obviously not tried to get anywhere. I am currently stuck at the other end of the country from where I live, having come down south for work reasons on Monday. Should have been home by teatime yesterday but had 2 flights and a train journey cancelled and don't even know if I'll get home tomorrow. I'm in a cosy hotel right enough but I want to go home now!

Original poster
crackerjacket · 01/03/2018 17:13

hysteria is probably a poor choice of word.

^

Yes indeed.

OP posts:
KNain · 01/03/2018 17:15

Also, it's worth remembering that not everywhere has a red warning! Surely whether it's hysteria or not depends on where they/you are - those in areas with a red warning; no of course it's not hysteria, and it's not funny.

Where I am it's a yellow warning (so be aware, not even be prepared). Today it's been -2 but barely any snow and it's not predicted to get colder than that now.

Despite this all the schools and the local shopping centres are shut. Facebook is full of people panicking and bulk buying. I drove out to one of the villages nearby this morning for a baby group - barely any snow there either and the backroads were fine.

I think this is the hysteria the OP is talking about, not the people who are taking sensible precautions against an extreme (for this country) weather phenomenon.

crunchymint · 01/03/2018 17:16

Yes this has been forecast. So I did a shop at the weekend. My elderly parents have stocked up on food. Other relatives who have no central heating chopped and stored within easy reach a weeks worth of wood for the stove in the living room. This isn't a surprise. And for most people the worse it means is travel is difficult or impossible.

Ladydepp · 01/03/2018 17:16

I'm from Canada. Most of Canada has infrastructure that is designed for regular blasts of -20C and huge dumps of snow.

But guess what? People still die in blizzards there, supplies run out and airports and schools still close. We had 'snow days' several times every winter where I lived despite all the ploughs, gritters, winter tyres etc... This idea that weather like this (in the red and amber zones) is absolutely fine in colder countries is nonsense.

However, people panic buying is idiotic, as are people going out to buy birthday cards or whatever the hell they are doing...

Sparklingbrook · 01/03/2018 17:16

Blimey OP no need for that.

vespertillio · 01/03/2018 17:17

well for those who are truly suffering, they're not being hysterical, they're having a proportionate response. Here in Ireland the supermarket shelves have been cleared and the over-reaction has become a national joke with people selling loaves of bread on ebay- lighten up, we can't exactly control the weather, just our responses to it. www.dailyedge.ie/brennans-pan-for-sale-beast-from-the-east-3874126-Feb2018/

EdithWeston · 01/03/2018 17:17

With the confirmation of the death of a seven year old in Cornwall, and the discovery of the body of an 'elderly' woman on the street in Leeds, it's very hard to be lighthearted about this.

And a big shout out if thanks to the emergencay services who are working so hard - 8 RTAs on one stretch of the AI in Lincolnshire (downgrading Grantham hospital doesn't seem such a good idea now, does it?)

And to the Armed Forces personnel who have been drafted in to help a and even they, with winter training and rugged 4x4s are having difficulty getting through. But without them, the emergency services would be struggling even more, as they're getting key staff from their homes to their place of duty

cjferg · 01/03/2018 17:18

How dare you. You realise some people actually had to WALK TO THE SHOPS instead of drive?!?!?!

Seriously they've been telling us this is coming for weeks. It doesn't take a lot to prepare a little.
And how fucking stupid do you have to be to walk out on a frozen pond?

malificent7 · 01/03/2018 17:18

I love snow but i feel for elderly, homeless or anyone who has to get anywhere in an emergency.

The kids love it though.

crunchymint · 01/03/2018 17:19

My DP made it home from work fine, we are in an area badly hit. But he said the roads were very clear. He honestly thought he might have to stay overnight so had prepared for that. Our heating is not really coping with how cold it is, so it is on but it is just warm rather than cosy.

cjferg · 01/03/2018 17:19

And I am In a red zone.

crunchymint · 01/03/2018 17:20

Yes a 7 year old died when a car hit her house. Tragic. Driving is the dangerous activity at the moment.

AuntieStella · 01/03/2018 17:20

"that being said;this storm has been on the forecast for 3 weeks"

Yes, the mocking on the prepper (north v south) thread from last week reads a bit differently now. Well, some of it is still good humoured and fun, but the comments about 'hysteria' made then read really badly now.

RIP those who have died because of the weather Sad

cjferg · 01/03/2018 17:23

The problem is that there is so much hype about the snow that 9/10 doesn't live up to the prophecies of doom. In this case the warnings have been warranted, but it can be like the boy who cried wolf, it's hard to know how seriously to take heed of the warnings.

EXACTLY. But this is because people over react so much if unpredicted weather happened.
I'm sure a few months ago people were calling for the transport minister to resign because there was snow and trains and buses had to stop, even though there had been a day or two warning. Wouldn't be surprised if people sent death threats over it tbh.

AuntieStella · 01/03/2018 17:23

The 7 year old wasn't stupid. She was at home where she should have been safe when the car threat went out of control hit it.

We don't know how the woman found on the street died. But the reporting suggest elderly and confused.

Don't blame victims. Even if there are cases where their actions may have contributed to their deaths, it's simply not true for all.

crunchymint · 01/03/2018 17:24

It is tragic, but people always die in car crashes when there is any snow or ice. Because there are always people who drive too fast or too close to other cars.

crunchymint · 01/03/2018 17:25

Yes the elderly woman was found underneath her car. Tragic.