Do you think the hype over ice storms is too much?
Yesterday, I was at Walmart, and the over-worked, frantic employee laughed with me over the craze of the weather. She told me that people are insane when they come to Walmart, stocking up on all the essential needs to be locked inside their house for an entire day or two as well as equipping themselves with the proper attire in case of any problem or issue.
We laughed as I saw the heaviness in her eyes from dealing with loaded carts filled with all the necessary survival supplies. With the upcoming snow storm tomorrow, I was almost barreled down ten times by customers frantically searching for their goods. Christmas also plays a big hand in the swarm of customers, but from the looks of their shopping carts, so does the snow storm.
As I am in the process of moving, I have had to call National Grid to set up my utilities. As they rescheduled my reading, the again overworked and tired employee broke down as she looked for my house on her computer. She said she could hardly hold open her eyes, and her children demanded so much from her after she was forced to work 12 hour days on her two days off, and on her first 8 hour day back, she was exhausted. She just wanted to go home. From what calls used to be sterile and business-like, mine soon turned to trauma and dismay. I didn't mind hearing of her problems, but again this reinforced the tolls we take from strong hits of the weather.
Even at my job, the weather is all people can talk about. What are the newest developments? What is going to happen? What is the worst story that happened while the storm hit? It's complete madness, but at least it gives you something to talk about with awkward coworkers.
At my apartment complex, a window bust open from a falling limb directly above my bedroom window. The shattered glass and tree limbs still lay there, as it has not been repaired as of yet, and I am constantly reminded of the damaging effects of the storm.
I know that some people really did suffer some major damage up here from the last ice storm (in Albany). The power was out for many people for up to 4 days. Trees fell on top of houses and cars--some places were a disaster.
News channels are incessant with covering the footage, which I do enjoy to some extent, but how much talk and hype are too much? Sometimes I feel we react to these things as if we're natural Floridians, but we're not! We've had tons of winters before. Snow and ice come and go. It's a part of our climate up here in the north.
What do you think of these snow storms/ice storms?
2 comments:
I loved the snow and cold weather generally when I was younger (I also don't remember the power going out so much then). I thought it was romantic and ennobling. I don't mind it now, though as an adult there is usually more work and hassle involved with a snowstorm and less fun than when you are a student. I would like to be able to sleep and generally take it easy more too during these storms instead of have to go to work or whatever--that is my instinct certainly. I have read that in rural areas in cold countries in pre-modern times, the peasants and so forth would sometimes sleep 20 hours a day in the darkest months of winter, awaking perhaps to eat a little or go to the bathroom. But I must say I have only read that once.
An ice storm hit where I live about two weeks ago, and several thousand people are still without power, which is very wearisome to endure this time of year, the house being generally without heat when this happens, besides the danger of your plumbing being completely destroyed (due to freezing), which will cost many thousands of dollars to have repaired when you can even get a plumber to come and fix it (I know on the internet everybody claims to know how to fix their own plumbing I think most people will need help if this happens). My power was only out for 12 hours, and that mostly at night, so fortunately I did not have any of these problems. There were trees and wires down and roads closed for days. That is part of living here too, but of course everybody still has to go out and drive everywhere all the time to get on with their lives too (our weather is not convenient for the global economy).
thanks for sharing .
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