Winter weather news in the south is often a cause of panic due to unpreparedness for blocked roads and power outages, so students should be mindful of their winter habits to reduce the negative outcomes of acting on panic.
Winter weather eludes the predictable, routine pattern that people rely on for comfort. It sweeps the safety of this umbrella away entirely. Especially considering extreme weather phenomena or long-term forecasts, predictability can only go so far.
This lack of predictability results in panic. With a lens blurred by fear, information falls away from the facts and becomes more influenced by what reinforces those feelings.
It is a cycle that many southern communities find themselves experiencing in the winter months when the threat of snow and sleet becomes more apparent. Even the slightest mention of flurries can cause an uproar, causing grocery shelves to be wiped clean and emergency stockpiles to reach ceilings.
When considering what the past has revealed of many southern states’ preparedness in regards to winter weather, this fear is justifiable. According to CBS News, Atlanta suffered greatly at the hands of a 2014 snowstorm. According to The New York Times, that happened only 3 years after the city was paralyzed by the comparatively minor snowfall of Snowmageddon.
Many people are still left with fresh memories of stranded motorists, long nights in closed schools, below-freezing temperatures and the eerie stillness that only sunshine was able to thaw away.
Even more recently, the 2020 snowstorm brought Texas’ power grid to a complete halt, according to NPR. The south has struggled and continues to struggle with the reality of worsening winter storms.
In these times of panic, it is even more difficult to seek leadership. According to USA Today‘s article about Sen. Ted Cruz’s trip to Cancun during the winter weather crisis in Texas, some people even find it hard to provide it. While times of desperation may help build community, it is also just as likely to isolate others.
Actions are taken that ensure the safety of a select few, disregarding others who are seeking the same sort of reassurance. Due to this mindset, supplies become scarce. Rumors of shortages are more likely to arise than facts about panic buying. Over and over again, the pattern becomes apparent and shelves become bare.
Panic is not an avoidable thing in these times, though. No one is expected to keep an entirely stable head on their shoulders when the world around them falls to a frenzy over the span of a weekend. However, it is wise to be aware of the actions being taken during these anxiety-filled moments.
According to UGA Today, alternative steps can be taken to ensure safety less fearfully, rather than fuel the panic of a community. Take inventory of necessities, purchase what is needed. Credible sources are available to provide the best possible aid, as far as they can. Most importantly, know that no person is alone in these times.
