All very well saying "its only snow - deal with it" Of we will deal with it - the warnings aren't to make us panic they are to make sure people are prepared. In the last 4 years we have had more snow than I remember in my 30+ year lifetime A LOT has changed in that time - more of us work further from home. Both parents work. Older people are encouraged to live independently. So these warnings help us to plan to make sure we aren't stranded 40 miles from home, with our kids being sent home from school early and no one to meet them and we can make sure our parents have food and warmth if they can't get out for a few days.