We saw people driving sports cars into the hotel parking lots, wearing
SHORTS and sweatshirts. They had no winter gear, no warm clothing,
and were absolutely astounded to hear that Interstate 80 was closed.
They were abadoning their homes, because the power was out, and
heading to any available hotel room.

This reminds me that huge traffic jams on I-81 were in last week's news.
The problem was all the cars that couldn't climb the steeper hills due to
the reduced traction on the snow...

I wasn't going to comment, especially since it is off topic for the group,
but it caused me to remember what my sister told me roughly twenty years
ago. She was studying at a university in a hilly and occasionally snowy
area, and the main road into the campus led up a moderately steep (5 to 7%)
hill approximately 1/4 mile in length just after turning into the campus.
Of course, the end of the Christmas break was the fresh snow season.

When the parents would arive, and it had snowed, most could not get enough
traction to drive their cars up the hill. However, the university always
came to the rescue by having the Campus Police, using specially equipped
vehicles, push the otherwise stranded vehicles up the hill.

(I really should make all of you scroll down to read this...)

The specially equipped vehicles were the same plain old Ford sedans used for
routine year round patrol--with plain old tire chains on the rear wheels.

It is with GREAT effort that I am refraining from a political rant!

Peter