Because they are so (thankfully) rare, winter storms in the
south are tremendously disruptive. Northerners laugh that
a tiny bit of ice or snow can totally disable us. Unlike them,
however, we have no snowplows, no sand or salt spreaders,
and no ice scrapers, so most of our roads close almost
immediately. During Leon not only did the roads close,
but the primary link to downtown Charleston, the Ravenel
Bridge, closed for a full two days. On a more personal level,
Southerners, both native and transplanted, have thinner
blood and fewer sweaters. Our boots are intended to be stylish
rather than weatherproof, and our hats are reserved for the
golf course. In summary, we are for the most part totally
unprepared for real cold.
The morning after the storm, Kiawah residents woke to
biting wind and freezing temperatures, many of them with
burst pipes, no power, and somewhat less-importantly, no TV
or internet. Restaurants and stores were closed and meetings
were cancelled. Plumbing, electrical and HVAC repair
companies were overburdened and understaffed.
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