Why do people buy milk and bread is snow is predicted?

[DisneyCowgirl]

Someone here mentioned the store being out of PopTarts and not understanding that. Here in Houston, this happens for hurricanes. I stock up on PopTarts because they don't have to be refridgerated or cooked (in case power goes out), they won't start to get overripe or rot (like fruit) if the problems continue, you can throw them in the car if you have to evacuate, and the whole family will eat them. They're not the healthiest thing in the world, but on day 6 of no power and no groceries after Hurricane Ike, I was happy I had pop tarts to keep my 2YO from being grouchy because he had nothing good to eat.

 

[stm61]

Sure the PA ballet was open. They are in the city. You could walk there or take public transit. You go outside the city to a more rural area and forget about it. I lived in Lancaster Co for 40 years. When a major storm hits, there are some areas that don't see a snow plow for days. And now that I'm here in Kentucky, I have a new appreciation for the road crews that I used to complain about in PA. We have been getting snow here since Dec 3. The schools have been closed for 10 days already this winter. We are in a very rural area that is also very hilly. A lot of the roads around here are one lane and there are many that are just dirt or gravel(including the road I live on). The nearest convenience store is 8 miles away. The nearest grocery store is 20 miles away. They had a major ice storm here in 2009(before I got here) and pretty much the whole state was shut down for a week. So, yeah, even in this day and age it can and will happen.

I agree. I'm in SC and they do not plow anything other then the main roads here. They just can't do it. We got snow/ice on Mon. Dh just went out, with 4-wheel drive, to see how bad the roads are. He just called and said the gas station isn't even open. He made it into town, about 15 miles, and the Bi-Lo is open, but the shelves are bare. There's a Walmart across the street which I'm sure is also open, but they wont' have any more supplies then Bi-Lo does. We were under a state of emergency so the stores couldn't get deliveries. The temps aren't getting over freezing until Fri or Sat, so the snow/ice isn't going away any time soon. We only got about 7", but there's ice on top of and underneath the snow. Anything that does melt on the roads today, from traffic, is gonna refreeze tonight. Dh made it into town because he's from WV and very used to driving in snow/ice, plus has a truck with 4 wheel drive. Most folks around here don't have that driving experience or a vehicle that can handle snow, so they aren't getting into town for another day or so.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We are originally from California so we never had to deal with snow storm grocery runs. When we moved to Kansas and were about to experience our first snow storm, my sons teacher told me to make sure I run to the store for supplies. Being new to this, I assumed that people shopped before a storm so they can stock up on party food. I bought food like I was preparing for a super bowl party. I had multiple bags of chips, sodas, salsa, ingredients for my 7 layer dip, BBQ ribs, and any other junk food you could think of. When I got to the check out line, I noticed everyone was just buying things like milk and bread. I was so confused.

I have to say, I bet my house had so much more fun munching on super bowl party food than all of the other suckers who just bought milk and bread.

Hey, we are on our 2nd snow day here in Kansas City. I'm almost out of chips already, but I still have a gallon of milk and 2 loaves of bread.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

We are originally from California so we never had to deal with snow storm grocery runs. When we moved to Kansas and were about to experience our first snow storm, my sons teacher told me to make sure I run to the store for supplies. Being new to this, I assumed that people shopped before a storm so they can stock up on party food. I bought food like I was preparing for a super bowl party. I had multiple bags of chips, sodas, salsa, ingredients for my 7 layer dip, BBQ ribs, and any other junk food you could think of. When I got to the check out line, I noticed everyone was just buying things like milk and bread. I was so confused.

I have to say, I bet my house had so much more fun munching on super bowl party food than all of the other suckers who just bought milk and bread.

Hey, we are on our 2nd snow day here in Kansas City. I'm almost out of chips already, but I still have a gallon of milk and 2 loaves of bread.

You would have fit right in with the hurricane party people! If you're gonna be hot (not a problem with snow, but usually it is during hurricane season) and stuck for a while, best to invite the neighbors over and have a good time!

 

[ceemys]

I remember the 1978 blizzard. I was 11. It was horrible! Now, it just seems I am out of bread and milk when a storm hits. lol I don't like to buy too much at one time so it won't go bad.

 

[KellyNY]

We expect another big snow tonight. I will be shopping but actually because my fridge is empty. Last snow we had couple of weeks ago left me without a car for couple of days and I am so not walking in knee high snow for a milk even if stores are open. I always see empty shelfs in stores the moment we learn about the snow and not just milk, everything, like if ice age finally comes.

 

[NotUrsula]

...

The times when stuff was closed for 4-5 days are long gone.

That depends on whether or not you get ice with your snow. The right ice conditions will take down power lines, and depending upon how many are down and how great a geographical area is affected, it is not at all out of the realm of possibility for a community to be without power for a week.

 

[jodifla]

Yes, but really when was the last time that "any thing" was closed for more than 2 days. Seriously? Last year when we had those 30 inches in one night, the next day, the pennsylvania ballet was open for the nutcracker.

The times when stuff was closed for 4-5 days are long gone.

Not if you keep getting hit back to back to back.

In Florida in late summer 2004, we had several hurricanes hit --Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. They knocked out phone and electricity through South Florida. Some people were without power for weeks. We did have water, thank goodness. But we couldn't even buy gas -- the pumps run on electricity.

Stores throughout the region were bare for many days....Ships couldn't get into the state because the ports were messed up due to the storms. And the roads were affected because of the storms as well. It was odd to walk through a supermarket and see nothing but bare shelves. Even when the power came back on, they didn't have anything to sell.

 

[lorilori]

We here in NC and school was just cancelled again for tomorrow. The snow isn't the problem at this point, it's the ice on the roads. We're pretty much stocked up with food because we usually are with 3 kids, but the neighbor told us she left to go to the grocery, took her 15 minutes to just get to the stop sign where she turned around and came home because there were already 2 cars in the ditch.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

We stock up on perishables just in case we can't get out for a few days. Nothing wrong with being prepared.

 

[gk90]

Ooops! Big snowstorm arriving here tonight. Just came home from the store and guess what, I forgot to get bread! We do have a good amount of milk and I did get eggs, maybe will make pancakes instead of French toast. I'd never heard of that "tradition" until this thread, sounds good to me!

 

[tonilea]

Not if you keep getting hit back to back to back.

In Florida in late summer 2004, we had several hurricanes hit --Charlie, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. They knocked out phone and electricity through South Florida. Some people were without power for weeks. We did have water, thank goodness. But we couldn't even buy gas -- the pumps run on electricity.

Stores throughout the region were bare for many days....Ships couldn't get into the state because the ports were messed up due to the storms. And the roads were affected because of the storms as well. It was odd to walk through a supermarket and see nothing but bare shelves. Even when the power came back on, they didn't have anything to sell.

Ah, Ivan left us without power for several days - and I live about as far north as you can get and still be in Arkansas!

 

[bucket o' butter]

DH and I were just discussing this last night. It seems that everyone runs to the store to buy milk, bread and eggs when they hear a storm is coming. We joked that snow must bring on a craving for French Toast. We got our snow storm today, so of course, I fixed French Toast for supper tonight.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

That depends on whether or not you get ice with your snow. The right ice conditions will take down power lines, and depending upon how many are down and how great a geographical area is affected, it is not at all out of the realm of possibility for a community to be without power for a week.

We were expecting sleet one night in December 2008. Power went out around 11pm, figured it would be back on anytime soon. Turns out there was a terrible ice storm (I slept through it), knocked out power in the entire area and took down lines all over the place. Homes were w/o power anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. Mine was out 4-5 days, since the house was 47 degrees I took my time coming back! For weeks we had power crews from all over the east coast in our town.

Here is a picture what a little sleet storm did...

http://www.thelandmark.com/news/2008-12-18/front_page/001.html

 

[mrodgers]

Ah, Ivan left us without power for several days - and I live about as far north as you can get and still be in Arkansas!

Ivan took out power in western PA as well. Problem was, the electric companies sent all their service techs down south to help out with the problems down there, leaving many up here with no power for weeks when it hit us.

I was out for 4 days I think. I know other close areas were out for weeks.

Around here, I would agree with the post who said that people grocery shop on certain days. When those days are expecting a big snowstorm, those folks move their grocery day back and the stores get swamped. I don't know anyone who actually panics about snowstorms, though they all do forget how to drive in the snow. It's amazing how you can have 2 solid months of snow and everyone carries on driving like nothing, then after 2 days of nice weather thawing out and melting the snow from the roads followed by another snowstorm, within those 2 days, everyone forgets how to drive.

 

[JCMHutch]

We were expecting sleet one night in December 2008. Power went out around 11pm, figured it would be back on anytime soon. Turns out there was a terrible ice storm (I slept through it), knocked out power in the entire area and took down lines all over the place. Homes were w/o power anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks. Mine was out 4-5 days, since the house was 47 degrees I took my time coming back! For weeks we had power crews from all over the east coast in our town.

Here is a picture what a little sleet storm did...

http://www.thelandmark.com/news/2008-12-18/front_page/001.html

I remember that storm well. DH works at a hospital out in western MA and they had no power when he got to work. Route 2 West was just full of downed trees and he said all you could smell was sawdust because the crews were cleaning up. We lucked out that storm - we were the only area in the surrounding towns that didn't lose power. Now we are sitting here watching more snow fall today!

 

[dwfanatic]

Not so much the eggs, but at our house I make sure we have milk, bread, and toilet paper....it's the running joke here...with the amount of snow we got here last night I'm not sure the 6 rolls of TP I have will last !!!!

I told my friends I want to make a drive-through grocery store that only hands out milk, bread and toilet paper (but looks like I may have to switch that last one to eggs)- the store will CARRY other things but you will need to go inside the store to get them. To make it efficent during storms, etc, the only things you can get at the drive thru are milk, bread, and tp (or eggs )...someone want to invest???

 

[GinnyEmma]

lol, I have never ever made french toast on a snow day. Making it today. You all are a bad influence!

 

[rdrjj5]

lol, I have never ever made french toast on a snow day. Making it today. You all are a bad influence!

Just finished my french toast breakfast because of reading this thread! YUMMY!!

 

[holden]

This is too funny. I chalk it up to "mob mentality". Ever see/read Arthur Miller's The Crucible? Yeah, it's that idea.