This happens every time here when we get a major storm (this year, we have had 6 good ones). They close all non-essential businesses, and roads are clogged for hours. Of course, when its snowing over an inch an hour, for 6-8 hours, navigation isnt easy. And, there's two kinds of drivers primarily on the road; those who think 4WD allows them to do the speed limit, despite the weather conditions, and those that drive 3 miles an hour, causing issues because people have to go around them. The first time, I left when the office closed; it took me 4 hours to go 25 miles. Every time after that, I simply waited an hour or so, then took back roads, and was home in an hour. Personally, I think the majority of SUV drivers are more of a liability on the road, as the drivers dont know how to control it (nor do they understand exactly what 4WD does...). And, it happens every single snowstorm...people have to relearn how to drive in the snow!

I osted here before but my wife worked in a 30some story building downtown and we carpoooled because there was a several year wait list for parking. Land line phones didn't work either so I was able to e-mail her and told her to get on broad steet and stay on the south side and walk east torward home and I'd get there eventually and circle around and drive on that side and pick her up. hew law firm quietly evecuated all the lawyers and then finall let the staff go so she was one of the last to leave, they all got to watch everyone else in the area fill the streets.

I may have asked this before, but does she still work for that firm? I worked for two different firms one on 9/11 and another during the blackout of 2003. In both, the lawyers were almost all male and much of the staff were women over 50. In both cases, the lawyers stuck around trying to make sure the staff was going to be ok. The captain and officers are not suppose to abandon the ship before the crew. Of course, both were admiralty firms with lawyers that had served at sea.

Yeah, I take the train. I can jog 15 minutes from the station to home, I can walk 5 minutes from the station to work. If it is bad enough that the trains aren't running, I can camp out at one of the fine hotel establishments here downtown, currently running on average less than 60% occupancy. I have an in with the Courtyard Mariott here that would pretty much gaurantee I would have an overnight place to stay and preference. All I have to do is make a quick phone call.

Worse comes to worse, I can always sleep under my desk if need be.

We both hanged jobs shortly afterward. She had started school part time because that law firm treated her like crap partly due to her not having a college degree. She then went on to school full time as I got a better job afterward too. I made several changes between then and now to make us better prepared. We live and work outside the city now which makes us much less vulerable to the traffic for example.

I would rather see them driving slow than fast.
Slow drivers don't do as much damage when they run into you.

I agree with the wait it out when the roads are bad and traffic is heavy too.

Slow drivers cause others to swerve around them, usually in anger or frustration. This can cause them to lose control, and cause an accident. I have seen it many, many times (as I am sure you have too, up there in alberta). I agree, I'd rather be hit by someone doing 5, than 55, but there is danger in going too slow as well.

My eye-opener for this scenario came when I was still commuting 80 miles a day roundtrip for work. There was an accident that closed I-95 about 3 miles from the exit (in either direction) and so we got to sit for 90 minutes unable to move. It turned into a block party of sorts, with people sitting on their cars talking (late spring, so it was warm). I got out my CB and fired it up so that I could find out when the road opened back up (we did not have visual on the closure) and pass the word. It was a good old time. But ever since I have carried more equipment to deal with such an event. Because next time it could be cold, or snowy, or we could be there for a lot longer.
Fortunately, I have a much shorter drive now and I don't need to get on the interstate for it. I still have all the gear. Between my car trunk and my desk drawers I can camp out in the office comfortably for a couple days (which is also handy in case of Delta).
Snow is also a panic-inducer here in MD. I tend to keep my truck in 2WD until I need more just because it keeps me focused. When I switch into 4WD I switch my strategies too, since the physics rules for the operation have just changed. My biggest concern at that point is the guy in the '88 Caprice doing donuts down the road as he tries to regain control...

Same stuff happens in Dallas-Ft Worth, except that the grocery story panic is over milk-bread-meat-disposable diapers.

The ridiculus part of all this is not knowing the weather conditions. Dallas could be shut down for 48-72 hours when snow/ice hits. If one doesn't have enough food/water/medicine for 2 - 4 days then they are simply clueless about a lot of things in life.

looks like the upper mid-west--Minneapolis--is in for the same right now..heavy snow that started around noon..the drive home will be a dog fight..