Better prepared...

In Philadelphia, we are quite used to "wintry" winters. Living in a temperate zone, we are not strangers to blizzards, snow storms, and various weather extremes from heat to cold.

This latest snow storm is at least the 6th or 7th of the season for us here in Philly. Though we know how to prep roads and preempt school closings---oh wait---school closings?? I digress...

It does seem that we are better prepared this time. Philadelphia's public schools announced a closing hours before the first flakes fell. Something that we are not used to. During at least two of the storms this season schools were open with half empty buildings, forcing emergency closings and four and five hour commutes back home.

This time SEPTA, our mass transit agency, detoured routes ahead of the flakes to avoid going into typical problems areas and to get commuters used to the new temporary routes. This "just in"....all bus routes will be suspended beginning at 10am this morning because of deteriorating roads!

This time teachers prepared students for the possibility of a 5-day weekend with Presidents Day being this weekend. My team and countless other teachers sent home enough work to last the equivalent an entire school week. I'm sure parents will appreciate their children having enough to do and not having to deal with "Bored Child Syndrome"

This time even Atlanta learned from the previous storm that embarrassed the city and kept people on roads for an entire day. Those who chose not to spend the night on the interstate abandoned their cars to walk miles to homes or hotels and return to their cars later. Children spent the night at school under the care of the same teachers who care for them during the day and who also get harassed by politicians and cooperate America.

What a winter! I don't like to complain, because I am not a heat person by no stretch of the imagination! 90+ degrees? No thanks!