Ok, now I know that I grew up in Michigan and lived in Boston for six
years so I am perhaps better equipped to deal with foul weather of the
winter variety than most. However, Washington, DC's chronic
inability to deal with any of the elements never ceases to amaze
me. I mean, it's not Atlanta, it's not like it never snows here - we get a handful of storms a year, which is par for the course in this day and age.
Yesterday everyone was all atwitter with news of "snow!" Did I think that work would get canceled? How much are we going to get, they're saying an inch or two!! Kill me. I woke up this morning to what can only be described as "a dusting", to which various officials and building workers had immediately melted with enough salt to bring on a heart attack in a healthy 25 year old. Schools were delayed (I'm not kidding), even though you didn't need a freaking scraper to get the snow off your car - it was so light you could just windshield wipe and drive.
Back to that canceling work thing. Does that even happen in other cities? My company actually has a snow day procedure plan to notify us in the event work is canceled. Let me tell you about a little thing called "The Blizzard of 2005" which dumped more than 3 feet of snow on Boston and had gusts of wind up to 80 mph. This occurred on a Saturday night and all day Sunday. Did we go to work the next day, you bet your sweet ass we did! We dug ourselves out, then we dug our cars out, then we got on the roads (most of which had been cleared in the city).
Note the picture at right, it reveals many interesting things.
1- The streets are being continuously plowed throughout the storm, so
when it's over you are not left with feet upon feet of
precipitation. DC has like one plow and it stays out at National
Airport so we can all flee if necessary.
2- There is an individual carrying a bag of sundrys in the background -
indicating that stores were open during the storm to serve your
needs. Sure lots closed down, but the bars were open (what else
are you going to do?), as were some other basic needs stores.
3- Alicia and I are smiling, but inside we're frowning...because we know we're goin' to work the next day no matter what.
End Rant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_of_1996#Baltimore.2FWashington
Since we were struck unprepared by the blizzard of 96, DC upgraded its salt truck fleet and has been forced to drown us out every time snow is in the forecast. I assume this is necessary for us to meet some quota so truck maintenance doesn't get removed from our budget. I cannot explain why indoor soccer practice will most likely be cancelled on Saturday.
Posted by: Recler | February 07, 2007 at 09:51 AM
We have had 2.3" of snow this winter so far. How do I know this you ask? The news. Apparently 2.3" in DC is considered "news." I am so embarassed for us.
Posted by: Cheerio | February 07, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Whatever! ITS COLD, ITS WET, I'M SLEEPY.
I live HERE because I never want to experience first hand what is happening in that photo.
Posted by: Birdbath | February 13, 2007 at 02:03 PM
My hometown -- Portland, Oregon -- reacts the exact same way as DC: one inch and the city shuts down. Lame? Sure, but when you get maybe a week of good snow every year (and some years much less than that) nobody has any idea what they're doing. I wouldn't be surprised if the city kept Morton's on hand to clear up the roadways.
Posted by: WWB | February 14, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Grew up in Buffalo and lived in Minneapolis for a good portion of my life. Now I live in DC. Personally, I can't wait for a snow day for an inch of snow! We had a blizzard with 9 feet of snow one weekend and we only got off on Monday! I hope it snows a lot this year :) (I'm also biased as I like to ski, so 'thinksnow' isn't just a motto so I can get off from work... it's actually a daily thought process.)
Posted by: Brandon | October 29, 2007 at 03:16 PM