What's it like living in the SE?

[luvsJack]

Yes, there was the "icemageddon" or whatever that happened here...once...5 years ago.

You can try to rationalize it, but having been born and raised in areas that get snow, the "think of the children" caution here is taken to an absurd extreme IMO. Yes, there is minimal snow removal equipment here. So if it's going to snow and stick more than a coating, stay home. But that almost never happens here. Closing due to a potential snow shower when the temps are above freezing is insane, IMO. They're still saying they will "monitor" to see what to do tomorrow. ???? It's sunny and 40 degrees outside right now.

And it’s supposed to be in the 20’s tonight and not get above freezing until after 10 am, in Atlanta. I imagine that is what they are monitoring. Yes it may be sunny now and in the 40’s. And that can change quickly. That’s the thing down here, don’t like the weather? Stick around, it will change.

You do realize it’s not really snow they are concerned about but ice or freezing bridges. There was frigid air forecast during and behind the precipitation. That was their concern.

Dh drives all over the country. He has been in some horrible weather this year. And he can tell you, it’s not the snow but the ice. And in some areas, they have the ability to pretreat the roads and the equipment to take care of it. Not so in the south.

You can roll your eyes all day long but you don’t have 100’s of kids on the road to worry about.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Well, the issue, which I’m sure you’re aware of is that if it DOES hit, it has the potential to turn a 1-hour commute into an overnight stay in your car.

And because these things are such an infrequent occurrence, even “ridiculous over caution” is going to result in no more than a handful of lost school days per year.

I just don't think it is insane or ridiculous to take 1, 2, or 3 or so extra days off you didn't end up needing to that were already built into the schedule anyway just in case. On the contrary, that is prudent.

 

[Klayfish]

You can roll your eyes all day long

I'll take you up on that offer...

 

[Kitty 34]

You know, we just never get these pages of opinions when someone mentions they're moving to Michigan. Of course have we ever had a thread on here of someone stating they're moving to this state and what thoughts us Michiganians or Michiganders would offer on that decision???

But hey tomorrow our state is closed so whatever.....

 

[Wishing on a star]

People...
Why feed the troll.
Why argue with somebody who only offers negativity and 'stirring the pot'.

I would, again, refer that bumper sticker I mentioned...
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN HOW YOU DO/DID IT UP NORTH"

Interesting that there is somebody who is so inclined to continually give-a-damn and bash the South.
Hhhhhmmmm!!!!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Ohhhh...... and PS:
While there are literally countless people who have moved here, and stayed...
What some who are not crazy about this might almost call and invasion.... Of people who just absolutely delight and tell us just EVERYTHING that is wrong with us and how we might do things...
I really don't know of one person who has turned around and moved back.
Just simple numbers, people.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

People...
Why feed the troll.
Why argue with somebody who only offers negativity and 'stirring the pot'.

I would, again, refer that bumper sticker I mentioned...
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN HOW YOU DO/DID IT UP NORTH"

Interesting that there is somebody who is so inclined to continually give-a-damn and bash the South.
Hhhhhmmmm!!!!

Out of curiosity, did the bumper sticker really have the slashed “do/did” in it? Bumper stickers are supposed to be catchy and that doesn’t really roll off the tongue. Just seems poorly written.

ETA: Nvm. I reread the thread and see that this is a paraphrased bumper sticker.

 

[Klayfish]

People...
Why feed the troll.
Why argue with somebody who only offers negativity and 'stirring the pot'.

I would, again, refer that bumper sticker I mentioned...
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN HOW YOU DO/DID IT UP NORTH"

Interesting that there is somebody who is so inclined to continually give-a-damn and bash the South.
Hhhhhmmmm!!!!

Easy there. Just a discussion. Sorry if you don't like it.

 

[portocall]

I'm not as far south as you but I agree that there is an overreaction to weather (I am in the DC area). I think it's fine when the schools closes even with a little "weather" on the ground, but they go too far. I'll have gotten back to work for 2 days with perfectly clear roads and they schools are still closed because it seems like there cannot be one patch of ice on a sidewalk or school driveway. I don't get it. I was born and raised in this area, including all my schooling and we rarely got the amount of days off as now. It's just incredible. Granted, we did sometimes have to walk to a bus stop and wear our boots and traipse through some not-perfect sidewalks. It seems like there's a lot of overkill but I guess they are now worried about lawsuits.

I am not trying to be argumentative, but there is cautious and then there is too extremely cautious in my opinion. Rain when it is 45 out is not going to freeze. This morning when I drove to work from north of Atlanta it was 49 degrees out. Then the sun was supposed to come out, then at dusk it should be around freezing. The forecast hasn't changed. People did not need to rush to the grocery store and barricade themselves in the house all day.

The problem is this happens often enough that it does get an eye roll. I was here during the 2014 storm and it was a huge, disaster, no doubt. But it really was a perfect storm that day. However, the timing of how all of that with down with the timing of when the snow started, when the temperatures dropped and how everyone left at once will probably not be replicated. It was sort of the perfect storm, so to speak. I guess the way to avoid that happening again is just to close everything if it is supposed to rain and it is below 45 out.

The cost of insurance for schools is astronomical. They protect the schools from the financial strain of lawsuits. I do believe lawsuits through the years have contributed to the cautious behavior we see in the schools today because there will be a parent ready to sue if their child gets hurt or spends a night on the bus. And like car insurance goes up when you get in an accident. The schools insurance goes up when you have a lawsuit.

After Hurricane Katrina, people asked why people didn't leave. Why an evacuation order didn't come sooner and a big part of the answer is between major storms we're a bunch that weren't too bad. The previous two evacuation orders ended with lots of eye rolling and anger because the storms turned. So with that in mind (and the fact that it really blew up at a time that if you weren't on the road already, it was too late) they underreacted which is much worse.

I just take closings in stride. We were off for two days earlier this year that ended up being breezy but beautiful. But I would 1000 times prefer that to being stuck somewhere other than home.

We get off for snow and ice. We just don't have the resources to handle it.