Another snow post - but AIBU to think that the stories of all the people volunteering to help are heartwarming?

[Niceandwarmandhot]

I was listening to the news on the way into work today. There's no snow where we are, but only a few miles away people are stuck on motorways; it's hard to visualise it! But the news had story after story from all over the UK about people taking hot drinks and food and blankets out to stranded motorists, and people with 4x4's volunteering to take people to hospital or to drive NHS staff home after shifts.

I thought that was great, and that one thing Britain is quite good at is people rallying around to help one another when there's a crisis. Hoorah for the thoughtful helpful people!

I live quite rurally. We haven't had snow for a few days but the wind has been whipping up the laying snow into huge drifts over the roads. Our little town is almost cut off now.

Our local fb page has been amazing, people out in 4x4's and tractors, clearing the roads, getting vehicles out of ditches, taking medical staff around. I saw posts last night saying things like 'saw vehicle lights in x place, think they're stuck' and people going out to rescue them.

Such a refreshing change from petty squabbles about inconsiderate parking!

Yep, thoroughly heartwarming community spirit here too.

Sitting on my hands, though, to avoid pointing out the fact that if idiots weren't on the road when not necessary, they wouldn't need others to risk their lives helping them out.

People round here haven't been so shy about making that very point!

I suspect people are too inexperienced with driving in snow to realise how serious it is?

As I said, it's hard for me to imagine it from here, where we just have grey, muddy roads! But yeah, I wouldn't take it into my head to drive up to Yorkshire from here without checking carefully (and noping the fuck out of there!).

I think the problem here is that it's just the normal, bog standard, local routes that are blocked. People assume it'll be OK to just nip into the neighbouring village as usual and are getting caught out by the extreme conditions. I've lived here 18 years and never seen it like this. The kids are on their 4th day off school.

It is lovely, although in some cases it is frustrating that those being helped could have avoided the situation had they needed the warnings. I think there’s a sense with some about being slightly scornful or earnings/people stocking up on food etc, which I can understand a bit when the severe weather is affecting areas which aren’t used to it st the moment.

There was a chap on the local radio this morning who had heard warnings not to travel but had got stuck, and who was urging people to pay attention!

Fb with us, is constant sharing about getting nurses and care staff back and forth work. People putting a request, then someone will say x shared a post with an offer, and they are being matched up.

Also all the young boys- teens- putting up if anyone needs checking on, things from town, etc

Young men offering to clear paths, get medication, do welfare checks

People saying their home is open for care staff, district nurses etc who are out and about to pop in for hot drinks and food

We had plumbers last night, we fed and watered them, as they'd been out over 24 hours and we're working all night, and also offered if they got stuck (they had so many calls!), that we had 2 spare beds so we're more than welcome here.

I can say our community has really come together, and it is a pleasure to see.

However I do agree with PP, we knew this weather was coming. So unless you had to be out in it- emergency services, NHS, care staff, gas engineers etc. Then why put yourself in that position? That then causes others to put their lives at risk by having to rescue you?