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How Bad Weather Affects People Differently
By Geoff Cummings
Isn`t it interesting to see how people around the world react differently to extreme weather conditions? I write this as at this time in the UK we are seeing a lot of snow. The snow is turning to ice, and that`s creating havoc on our roads. Now sometimes the snow and cold affect just parts of the country, but not this time. The weather is apparently the worst it`s been for around 40 years, and it`s affected everywhere from the North of Scotland right down to the south coast of England. True, it`s probably no worse here than it is every winter in parts of North America, or some other parts of the world - Scandinavia and eastern Europe for example. It`s how we deal with it that`s so different. Here we just can`t cope! I heard on today`s news that one and a quarter million people hadn`t gone to work today because of the weather conditions. Employers are complaining that in some areas 1 in 10 workers have stayed at home. Yet, what do you do when the advice from motoring organizations and the police is not to go out unless absolutely necessary? Look on US websites selling tools and DIY equipment and you`ll find a wide selection of snow throwing machines. Here in the UK they are rare, almost unheard of unless for commercial purposes. We clear our snow by shovel (if we own one). I live close to a salt mine which produces salt for gritting roads. This year it is having to work around the clock to mine enough salt for the queues of trucks to take to their various councils. It seems that in some areas because of a shortage of salt no more gritting can be done, thus making the roads even more difficult to drive on. In some areas minor roads are virtually untouched and they are completely covered in snow, making them impassable. Older people are finding it particularly tough as they have to spend more on heating. And, as they find it hard to get about, some are almost trapped inside their own homes, and relatives, neighbours and friends are having to take food in to them. The whole thing has become quite surreal. I went to the doctors earlier and the place was deserted. Patients were phoning up while I was there to say they wouldn`t be able to keep their appointments because of the weather. The roads are almost empty, car parks in towns deserted. It all comes down to the fact that we aren`t prepared for the volume of snow we`ve had over the past few weeks. It would cost far too much to have everything in the way of equipment we might need for something that only really happens once every few decades. And it`s for this reason that rightly or wrongly we in the UK don`t cope with bad snow and ice as well as some in other countries which are far more used to it. |
Snow Throwing Equipment
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I agree with you that the UK is totally unprepared to meet any adverse weather conditions, whether it be rain or snow and ice. I lived in Indiana for 12 years, about 90 miles east of Chicago, and even on Christmas Day the city snow ploughs were out on the roads when it snowed. Of course there they are guaranteed to have plenty of snow every year, but the snow ploughs push the snow to the side of the roads, then put down salt (no grit) to melt what is left. Although it does get bitterly cold up there, when the sun does shine, the salt melts the snow, and the roads remain clear. In addition to the snow ploughs, many people with pickup trucks fit dozer blades to the front, and do a roaring trade clearing driveways and parking areas for offices and shopping areas, as well as side roads and alleyways. As a result, the roads are usually driveable, unless it's actually blowing a thick blizzard. Many people also have snow blowers, and clear pavements (sidewalks) for themselves and their neighbours. If they don't have a snow blower they use snow shovels (wider and lighter than a garden shovel) to clear pavements and paths of snow. The price of shovels and snowblowers is relatively cheap, of course much of that is linked to the demand for these items, which is limited in the UK. If only companies over here would shovel snow from their main areas, and if people would take their garden tools and help clear the roads and pavements where they live, things could be a lot different to what they have been this week.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Here it`s resulted in schools being closed for most of this week, literally thousands of them are shut all over the country. Could make it difficult for those due to start exams next week. Funny thing is if it gets too hot in the UK then it buckles some of the train lines so one way or another the weather will get us.
If it's not the cold it's the heat. Welcome to the UK :)
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
ha ha, no wonder you left.
Yeah, but now I am back, so what does that mean? :(
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Glutton for punishment?
Your so right, Geoff.
Right now the people in northern New England are looking forward to a tremendous weekend of sking tourist that will travel 200 to 400 miles to get to the ski slopes. The temperature will be below zero and they'll love it.
Thank you for sharing.
Frederick
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thanks Frederick. New England, you have some lovely places out in that part of the US from what I`ve seen on TV.
You're absolutely right. Aside from all of that, you also have a lack of experience with driving in such conditions. Here people in the northern part of the country can deal with driving in snow, schools close for a day if there are several inches on the ground. In the south however, they don't have that experience. Schools close when there is talk of snow, and driving with those people when there is a skiff of ice is terrifying.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
And apart from the driving conditions a lot of our footpaths haven`t been cleared which makes walking hazardous. There has been lots of accidents where people have slipped and broken their bones which puts added pressure on the hospitals.
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This intel was contributed by odls
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May, 2012
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