We didn’t wake up surprised by this storm.
The weather folks had been waving their arms for two solid weeks.
Maps. Models. Colors that usually mean “go buy bread.”
And yet — here we are.
So why wasn’t the city ready? Let’s review the most likely explanations.
1. “It Might Miss Us” Is the Official Municipal Religion
Every city has a belief system, and ours is optimism-based forecasting.
Sure, the storm was predicted.
Sure, it was on every app.
Sure, neighboring cities prepared.
But there’s always that quiet hope in City Hall:
Maybe it’ll just… slide around us.
It almost never does.
2. Preparation Is Politically Risky (Failure Is Familiar)
If the mayor prepares and the storm fizzles, critics howl:
“Overreaction!”
“Waste of money!”
“Why are plows out when the roads are dry?”
If the mayor does nothing and the storm hits?
“Well, nobody could have known.”
Doing nothing is safer.
Failure is predictable.
Preparedness invites scrutiny.
3. Meetings Happened Instead of Action
Somewhere, right now, there is a meeting recap that says:
- “Concerns were raised”
- “Options were discussed”
- “Next steps were identified”
None of which clear snow, salt roads, or keep power on.
Storms don’t wait for consensus.
They arrive whether the minutes are approved or not.
4. Responsibility Was Spread So Thin It Evaporated
Public Works thought Emergency Management had it.
Emergency Management thought Utilities were ready.
Utilities thought “someone higher up” made the call.
When everyone is responsible, no one is.
Meanwhile, residents became their own emergency planners — again.
5. We’ve Normalized Last-Minute Chaos
This may be the real reason.
We expect:
- delayed openings
- frantic press conferences
- explanations after the fact
We’ve accepted that preparedness is optional and recovery is standard.
And politicians respond to expectations.
The Bottom Line
This storm wasn’t a surprise.
The impact wasn’t mysterious.
The lack of preparation wasn’t accidental.
It was the result of incentives, habits, and a system that treats reaction as leadership.
The weather did what it always does.
The question is why our leaders didn’t.
Again.
6. We ALREADY GOT NEW BIKE LANES, NEW PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, NEW GREENWAYS, NEW DOMED STADIUM, NEW PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM, DOWNTOWN FUN PATROL, NEW POLICE DISTRICT STATIONS, AND HUGE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT? HEAT, TOO?
CATEGORIES=IN THE WEEDS, CURRENT EVENTS