A lot of people (vast majority) have been lulled into a trap by presuming that the trains and planes will always run on time; what's a little snow? Always dress for an extended stay in ambient conditions, even if you expect to only be outside your car or heated building interior for a few seconds. As the folks on the east coast have been brutally reminded, s*** happens.

I always drive these days and I take a lot of stuff. I might not be fully dressed for winter all the time while driving, but what I'm not wearing will be within reach inside the truck. I've been stuck in a subway and delayed at an airport in good weather; why would I (why should anyone) presume everything will run on schedule during a blizzard?