‘Snowmageddon’ Panics Nation’s Capital
The Washington, DC area got hit with the largest snowstorm in years last December, and then in late January a few more inches fell. Despite the fact that cross country skiing was just sublime in both cases, these events caused all kinds of problems, partly because the people responsible for clearing the roads were relying – as usual on chemicals, rather than snowplows and sand.
The pre-treating of the roads with salt has actually created ice under the beautiful, dry and powdery snow. There was no reason for spreading chemicals, particularly in view of the fact that the temperatures were much too low for salt to do any good. What it indeed caused were numerous accidents, and often the inability to slow down, stop, or climb inclines – all courtesy of the Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia departments of transportation.
Where a plowed (or even unplowed) roadway would have been fairly easily to negotiate without salt, the authorities – that are apparently already running out of money because of their extravagant use of chemicals and hiring of often unnecessary private trucks – the salt-melted and then re-frozen snow created expensive and often very dangerous skating rinks for cars, usually in all the worst places.
Seems like still another example of our tax dollars at work.
As we write this on Friday morning, another snowstorm, which is supposed to last more than 24 hours and dump around two feet of snow in the area, is fast approaching.
The snow blowers, snow shovels and bags of salt have long been unavailable. The authorities – such as they might be – have strongly recommended that everyone stay indoors for the duration and basically get ready to watch the Super Bowl. Consequently, the grocery stores got totally overwhelmed by mobs of often glassy-eyed shoppers, filling their carts to overflowing with milk, beer, Wonder “bread”, pretzels, bottled water and the inevitable soup cans, “flavored” with among other things high fructose corn syrup.
Even late in the evening on Wednesday and Thursday it was almost impossible to find a parking spot at any of the local supermarkets. Inside, practically every person pushing a shopping cart was breaking the indoor speed limits, the shelves were often bare and the lines at the registers snaked around into almost every aisle. It appeared that it would take at least an hour just to get to a cashier, or a self-checkout gizmo.
If six, or even 24 inches of snow can cause such mayhem, we wonder how things would look, if we actually faced a real, serious emergency…
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!Tagged with: Nation’s Capital • Panic • Snow salt • Snowmageddon • stores • washington
Filed under: Disaster • Environment • Food • Just Stupid • News Media • Only in America • Panic • Transportation • US • snow
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
You were right, Politicus, it was a bad one. In Pittsburgh we have at least 24″ of snow. Two towering pines on either side of the house were split by the weight of the snow. We awoke to find them splintered and half buried in the snow. We we without power for a few hours, but we were lucky. There are still 160,000 who do not have power. This was the worst snowstorm for us since the blizzard of 1993. I hope you are safe and well. My thoughts are with those who are still digging out and waiting for power.
so are you able to ski to work ?
oooo thats right you highland people don’t understand snow up there do ya ?
welllll just stay up there, we in the High and Dry SNOWFREE Midwest of Michigan can do just fine without you trying to ski through during your winter weather crisis. what did you get like 2 or 3 inches ? ha, we get that ontop of 12 inches and call it dust. hey I got an idea, why dontcha call sarah palin and her snow machine, she’ll get ya come salmon and coffee.
boy oh boyyyyy you highlanders..
BadGal, that would be a bit far, but tempting
I’d much rather ski for fun. And we didn’t get 2-3 inches, but nearly 30.
Don’t confuse the issue, BadGal. I LOVE the snow
Its the panicking crowds, I’m talking about.
Cher, losing power and heat is serious. Falling trees can be even worse. We got well over two feet. At the same time, it is beautiful and the cross country skiing is superb. In the meantime, hang in there!
That damn global warming!
Harrison, as you might realize climate and weather are not the same thing. As a matter of fact, some claim that its is indeed global warming that is causing these no-typical snow falls.
Oh right. No snow, it’s GW. Snow and it’s GW. Sorry I forgot.
Harrison, as somebody smarter than both of us already said:”…deniers should come back when they actually manage to learn the difference between climate and weather.”
Whomever said that must have a hockey stick in their garage. Global Warmers have been discredited. Period.
Enjoy your global warming induced snow!
Thank you Harrison
just curious where exactly is Harrison ?
ooooo sorry that’s right,, he’s on that planet where
they have that river. you know DENIAL.
Ahhhh I almost forgot.