One thing about living in the Snow Belt that you rarely hear about -

[hedgehog]

everyone watches out for each other. I went into the ditch once, called Triple A and had ten different cars stop by over the next half hour to make sure I was alright.

I got stuck on a hill last winter, and had to park in the lot of a pizzeria. When I went in to explain why my car was in their lot, a complete stranger gave me a ride home.

I can't tell you how many times in 35 years of driving someone has given me a push.

People carry jumper cables so they can help each other out.

I've had neighbors plow my drive when they knew my husband was out of town.


There's a reason Buffalo is the City of Good Neighbors.

[handmade34]

1. yes...

same in Vermont! shared misery during snowstorms

[elleng]

2. Good to hear, hedgehog.

I hope my sister in law etc are OK.

[niyad]

3. years ago, I remember a neighbor who carried a heavy chain and hitch on his truck--and, whenever it

snowed, used that chain and hitch to haul his neighbors' cars up our steep, icy hill. would never accept a dime, either.

[Octafish]

4. Absolutely, hedgehog!

I've lived most of my half-century plus in the Great Lakes states. Good people everywhere, all four seasons. Winters, though, can be brutal -- meaning everyone has to watch out for one another in order to survive.

January '79 it snowed blizzard strength for 10 days off Lake Michigan. Snow piled 10 feet, I kid you not. I-94 between Chicago and Detroit was closed for a week. We were snowed in. Only emergency vehicles with 4-wheel drive were allowed on the roads. My neighbors and I had fun, played cards, got hungry fast.

I cross-country skied into town. Halfway up a huuuge hill, John Beers Road, about a third mile, steep, just off I-94 exit 22 in Michigan; a guy in jeep stopped and asked if I needed a ride. I was so happy. All I brought back was beer, cheese and crackers. We were all happy.

[hedgehog]

5. Best snowstorm ever: The Christmas 2001 Storm -

My mom and Dad had a full house, my family and my brother's family. My husband had to be at work the next day, so when my Dad saw the weather report, we had the car loaded and out of the driveway in record time! Even at that - the roads were closing behind us for the first 50 miles or so. Meanwhile, my brother ran to the store for supplies, and my folks and his family enjoyed another few days of Christmas celebrations while they were snowed in.

[DeadLetterOffice]

10. My parents got trapped with us for an extra few days

because they couldn't get home to PA -- our driveway was 300 feet of completely snowed in and our plow guy was in Florida for the holidays. My 4 year old thought it was wonderful that Nana and Pap couldn't leave.

[Nye Bevan]

6. I'd link to think that this applies to all kinds of natural catastrophes,

like Floridians watching out for each other during hurricanes, and midwesterners during tornadoes.

[H. Cromwell]

7. Opened our home

NE PA here, right off I-81. I remember severe storms that closed the interstate. A young couple with an infant were among the people being housed at the local volunteer fire company. We took them into our home for a few days until everything was clear. 90% of the stranded people were taken into peoples homes during that storm. This in a small town of about 5000 people.

[Odin2005]

8. I think this is why Northern states tend to be Blue.

Every winter we are reminded why government and taxation is necessary.

[DeadLetterOffice]

11. Absolutely. I will gladly pay my town taxes...

... if you will make sure I can get my car to the grocery store the 7 months of the year that it snows.

But that doesn't explain Alaska... or the Midwest. hmm...

[Odin2005]

12. The Plains states are socially conservative because of...

...a lack of big cities. The ND part of the Fargo Metro has about 160,000 people, that is the biggest urban area in the state. They vote for Republicans because of social issues, not economic policy.

[jwirr]

9. There are exceptions. My grandson rolled over on glare ice last winter and the woman living where

it happened stood in the window and refused to answer her door. He had lost his phone in the accident which he should not even have been able to walk away from and had to walk back down the road to the next house. Later she called the police because he had knocked her mailbox over in the roll. I wonder if she would have called them if he had fainted on her doorstep?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

13. I remember after Hurricane Wilma down here, neighbors came out of their houses....

....and started being neighborly. Often sharing their generators with neighbors who didn't have them.

Sometimes inclement weather does bring out the best in people.

[raven mad]

14. Same for up here in the "cold belt" - at 50 below, it gets a little odd.

I'm feeling for y'all. Sounds like Thompson Pass near Valdez only with way more people. Take care.