Why do southerners panic when there is snow coming?

Question

Like it's only really supposed to be cold rain, maybe a bit of sleet coming where I live, not really snow. I live in South Carolina and people are freaking out. Buying all the water in grocery stores like it's a hurricane coming 🙄.

The most we might get is power outage for a little while but it's not going to be catastrophic.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

When snow hits the South or California people panic because it quickly turns into a disaster, and when those storms hit, they hit big.

First people empty out the grocery stores so no one can get food. Afterwards those hoarders have refrigerators full of food that has to be thrown out because they've bought way too much.

They should hand out ration coupons (real or virtual) with your tax returns and when the governor says it's an emergency you can only buy as much food and supplies as your rations allow. The coupons would have to be tied to your ID, otherwise the rich would buy them all up from the poor, and then the poor would run to the government screaming bloody murder that they have no food. From watching how events transpire now you know this is true.

People keep driving just as fast as they normally do, leading to way worse traffic injuries and deaths than people who live in states where it snows. This fills up the emergency rooms. You routinely see stories of 50 car pile-ups because no one can stop in time. If you drive slowly to handle the snow and ice you get plowed into by the fast drivers.

They also don't have the clothes they need to get through it, so they're freezing cold and slipping and falling all over the place. Then the power gets knocked out because the stupid government still hasn't put power lines underground (which they could have done in the 1980s), and now you're without heat or electricity.

We saw how useless the government is during the California fires. Heaven help us when the next earthquake hits. The good governments of the 1980s and 1990s handled several large earthquakes very well, but this time millions of people are going to die because the current city and state governments are not one bit prepared for it, nor do they want to be bothered by it. They are rich as Croesus, as all government workers seem to be nowadays, and they'll just helicopter out and give press briefings from a distance. When the governor only made $75,000 in the 1980s and didn't steal TENS OF BILLIONS from government programs, he rolled up his sleeves and got in there to help everyone as quickly as possible.

Ez-Bri-Z_v2 · Accepted Answer

Because they don't have the infrastructure to handle it.

I lived in south Texas for most of my life and when it snowed on the extrenely rare occassion, it would literally shut down the city. There weren't an army of snow plows to clear the roads. Power went out for huge swaths of the city. Heck, it didn't even need to snow, icy conditions woukd shut down the city as well. I remember them putting down gravel to help and a lot of windshields got broken when the roads did open back up. It's a total disaster.

The kids loved it though because it meant no school lol

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

Because Jethro and Jolene... Don't have the equipment to treat and plow the roads in Hog Holler America. Don't have cars equipped with winter tires. Don't have any experience driving on snow and ice. Don't have enough brains to simply stay off the roads for a couple of days. Don't own snow shovels. Don't have electric grids built to withstand ice storms. Don't have enough food in the house to survive 3 days without a grocery store. Don't have any experience riding out a blizzard.

Spencer10 · Accepted Answer

Because their infrastructure cannot handle it. Ice and snow cause powerlines, pole and towers to collapse. Dont worry I am sure when you ask Canada for help restoring your power grid we will send crews like always... or will we this time?

sage2021 · Answer

When I lived in East Tennessee, we would catch the tail end of a Noreaster and the snow ❄️ would be on the power lines making it impossible for them to stay connected. Then we wouldn't have power for almost a week!
Being a single Mom, it was very hard on me.
Sometimes the weather forecast people are dead wrong when reporting what the weather is good to be exactly, and not even close but it's worse! What is Doppler Radar for? Even that doesn't work right.
Maybe people (like me) remember when that happened to them and just in case, they want to be prepared.
Also they might be stocking up for the simple reason that they don't want to go out in bad weather and just want to stay home.🏡

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

It’s the ice that scares people. We don’t get it often, and I’ve seen the damage even just some bad wind can cause on powerlines here. I used to work on the TN/KY border, and I remember one bad winter left that border town in KY without power for a week. You could even see it when driving on the road that acted as a state line, lights on one side, darkness on the other. Our power system is outdated and not as reliable as we’d like it to be, and not everyone can be okay if the power goes out i. e. folks on oxygen machines. I get that it’s annoying to you, but the fear isn’t unfounded.

AviatorTom · Answer

The South does not have the snow removal and ice handling equipment that northern states do. It's not cost-effective and a reasonable use of taxpayer dollars to buy and maintain equipment that's used maybe every other year.

This makes driving more dangerous and power outages more common when winter storms do happen, and knowing that makes southern people more anxious about a forecast winter storm.

You also have to remember that many southerners are transplanted northerners, who moved to the south to avoid having to deal with winter.

Quigly · Answer

Because the South doesn't get snow, When the weather man calls for snow in the south we usually get an ice storm. You can't drive on ice at all. The only thing you can do is be prepared for power outages and being stuck at home for a while until it melts.

I remember one year the weather called for light snow and we got an ice storm that last almost a week. Power lines were snapping trees were breaking and you couldn't drive anywhere for another week after. The only thing you can do is keep a pantry of food items and some kerosene heaters around for heat.

ohsheeT · Answer

Well if it's going to freeze you want to drip your water so your pipes dont freeze and break that could turn in to a nightmare because nobody will be able to get out. Turn off your water or fix your pipes

Is it rains and it freezes that could bring down power lines and ice is heavy... and when you have kids you need power for your heaters , the refrigerators , your power outlets etc etc. It's better to be prepared then not

EFC1023 · Answer

I don’t know, but all the actual panic buyers is what ruins it for everyone. No reason for one person to take 15 loaves of bread. No one is considerate for others needs. On top of that the winter weather is the hardest to predict. I was supposed to get up to 6-12 inches of snow and up to an inch of ice. That’s all they forecasted for a week and then the day of it sleeted a little and barely got below freezing for half a day.

Beckybooboo · Answer

When I moved north from Florida I definitely overreacted when it snowed. I would go to the store the day before and buy all kinds of things, like I was gonna be snowed in for days! Now, it's just like any other day.

Abbycado · Answer

No clue. We go out and about in feet of snow where I’m from. 🤷🏻‍♀️

IndianPhotoAcademy · Answer

Because actual snow or ice events are uncommon in the South and because the area lacks the regular snow-handling equipment, road treatments, and winter infrastructure found in northern states, Southerners frequently "panic" about snow. People take extra precautions when it's predicted because even a small amount of snow or ice can disrupt life, shut down roads, and cut off power.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Because flights are being cancelled because of snowstorms and the media is making it seem like it's the storm of the century

FreyaRed · Answer

Drive a car without winter tires on snow and will know.

exitseven · Answer

they cannot drive in the snow and ice. They do not have the necessary equipment to handle 2 lousy inches of snow.

spartan55 · Answer

It's the same in north Texas. Weather panic is real.

On_cloud_wine · Answer

Some people don’t have a snow plow mobile thing so they’re stuck inside for a week or two

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Let me guess: Total chaos on the streets because nobody has winter tires?

Snakeyes7 · Answer

Because southern states don't invest in snow plows and other means of clearing the roads. If a snow storm comes, good luck trying to use the roads.

Shiprex · Answer

It's seldom easy for those not used to snow to deal with it in doses that are potentially dangerous.

Dargil · Answer

Lack of snow removal and devastating ice storms. Plenty of plows up north and few ice storms.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

They've never had to deal with it before and just don't know what to do.

dudeinohio · Answer

Here in Ohio, when there is a forecast over 3 inches, people go nuts. I figure, since we could get a foot, the stores will be unbelievably busy.

msc545 · Answer

They have no idea how to drive in the snow because they've never even seen it. And their roads aren't constructed to tolerate it.

Bklynbadboy12 · Answer

Cause they are not equipped for snow and ice its the same way that we fear a hurricane cause were not equipped for high winds and tidal surge

Mike_Hum · Answer

If your pipes burst, how are you going to flush the toilet? We saw during covid that people will panic and overbuy. And hello from a fellow sandlapper/crackalackian

Kingofkings1992 · Answer

I am from the south, they don't

Xawyx-2 · Answer

They are not used to snow.

Iron_Man · Answer

I don’t I would love to see snow

Why do southerners panic when there is snow coming?

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