Storm preparation: I don't get it.

[grsthegreat]

You laugh...we ran a supermarket for years in southern Wisconsin. Even there we could expect a run on bread and milk (even though in 99.9% of the cases the roads were cleared in a day). I always wondered what people did with 10 extra loaves of bread and 8 gallons of milk...a person can only eat so much french toast.

what about all those Y2K preppers with their 1,000 rolls of toilet paper and bags of grain

 

[jymbee]

You laugh...we ran a supermarket for years in southern Wisconsin. Even there we could expect a run on bread and milk (even though in 99.9% of the cases the roads were cleared in a day).

A few years ago there was storm on Long Island in NY and power went out for several days in some areas. So ok, if your power's out, that sucks. Very inconvenient and potentially costly if you lose a freezer full of food e.g. But life threatening??

There were people in an absolute panic. Some had missed a couple of meals and they were "starving"? Starving? Really?! No, you're not starving, you're HUNGRY! Big difference.

To this day I bugs me when a child who might have to wait an hour for dinner complains "I'm starving!". Yeah, I know, it's just an expression but it makes me wish that a parent would sit down with the kids and explain that missing one meal does not qualify as starving.

 

[MrPete]

Times are changing boys! I have lived in central Maine all my life (53yrs). When I was a kid we used to get these larger storms 3 or 4 times a year. Never thought anything about it, it was life in Maine. Now a days we get one of these storms every 5 to 6 yrs, so no one is prepared. I have used the same snow shovel and scoop for the last 20 yrs. I looked into buying a new shovel this fall and the only thing you can find in the local stores is made of plastic. Cold, heavy snow and a plastic snow shovel? No wonder they have to buy one every storm. With that being said Maine is in the top 5 of welfare states. So these people need a shovel, what are they gonna buy? The cheapest thing they can find. PLASTIC! Also years ago everyone had their own gardens and were stocked up for the winter. As much as I hate to say it those days are gone too!

 

[teejk]

A few years ago there was storm on Long Island in NY and power went out for several days in some areas. So ok, if your power's out, that sucks. Very inconvenient and potentially costly if you lose a freezer full of food e.g. But life threatening??

There were people in an absolute panic. Some had missed a couple of meals and they were "starving"? Starving? Really?! No, you're not starving, you're HUNGRY! Big difference.

To this day I bugs me when a child who might have to wait an hour for dinner complains "I'm starving!". Yeah, I know, it's just an expression but it makes me wish that a parent would sit down with the kids and explain that missing one meal does not qualify as starving.

I don't know what it is about bread and milk. In those days it was plain old white bread and 2% milk. I suppose now it has to be whole grain and skim (or soya). Something in the genetic code I guess. As for the whining children, we can't smack them anymore or threaten to smack them or god forbid make them wait in the car. Thank you Dr Spock.

 

[sdkubota]

Many people along the east coast are so totally dependent on the government taking care of them they have lost the concept of self reliance. With any luck, Mother Nature will do a little herd thinning. Those preppers sure are crazy huh?

 

[teejk]

Many people along the east coast are so totally dependent on the government taking care of them they have lost the concept of self reliance. With any luck, Mother Nature will do a little herd thinning. Those preppers sure are crazy huh?

I lived there (CT and NY). It's not necessarily gov't reliance. Many times it's just they make a lot of money and can't be bothered ("call the guy"). We always got funny looks from the neighbors when we mowed our own yard or shoveled our own driveway or did painting/repairs on our own house. Different cultures I guess. They were probably just as happy to see us leave as we were to get out of there.

 

[teejk]

sorry...would be a "dup" for some reason so I'll have to do the commercial break. I think my cordless mouse is going to the dump.

 

[crazyal]

I read something about the aftermath of the storm on one of the news services. They interviewed a woman who said the power was off and her house was down to 54 degrees and she was out of wood. With a weeks warning how could anyone get caught off guard? It's going to snow and you have a good chance of loosing power. If you have a wood stove why wouldn't you have a couple weeks supply of wood just in case? One can only imagine how many people do not have more than a day or twos worth of food and no source of back up heat that doesn't require electricity, like a kerosine heater.

 

[Professor Marvel]

I don't understand people in general. I am lazy so when I bother to go to the store I get a bunch of stuff. If I am looking for a can of beans I get a bunch of them. I guess my wife thinks I am crazy. If I see a cut of meat that we like on sale I get a bunch of it. Actually in the grand scheme of things it costs me less because I get it on sale. When a snowstorm is threatening I don't really care about getting anything. However if I was getting low on something and was needing to get it I probably just do without it until the storm is over.
God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

 

[MasseyWV]

So why do so many people wait until the day before or even the morning OF the storm to line up for gasoline, buy snow shovels, flashlights, batteries, basic food supplies, etc. etc.?

In short, people are lazy. Seriously, winter comes every year and people know that, so there is no excuse to not prepare for the worst. :confused2: