When the First Flake Falls…or Before It Even Thinks About It...

It's the best of times and the worst of times - winter storm season

Somewhere right now, a national weather correspondent is standing in front of a giant digital map, sleeves rolled up, voice lowered to a dramatic whisper, warning America that a “MAJOR WINTER EVENT” is approaching.

The graphics look like something out of a Pentagon briefing. The music is ominous. The storm has a name. And the name sounds like a Viking.

Meanwhile, here in Virginia, we’re doing what we always do when snow is forecasted, which is to say: we panic with enthusiasm.

You can feel the energy shift. The grocery store parking lots fill up like it’s the last chopper out of Saigon. Inside, the bread aisle looks like a crime scene.

Milk? Gone. Eggs? Forget it. Batteries? Only if you’re willing to barter a family heirloom.

And somewhere, a guy in line is loudly explaining that he “grew up in Buffalo” and that Virginians “don’t know how to drive in this stuff,” which is always the cue for the rest to roll eyes and pray he’s not on the road when we are.

Local news stations go wall-to-wall with coverage. Reporters are dispatched to stand in front of empty roads to tell us that, yes, the roads are still empty. VDOT trucks idle in formation like they’re preparing for a Normandy landing.

Schools announce closures before a single flake has fallen - sometimes before the storm has even crossed the Mississippi.

And yet, for all the hype, all the memes, all the frantic grocery runs, there’s a truth we sometimes forget: winter storms can be serious business. They can knock out power, freeze pipes, strand families, and disrupt businesses. The humor is real - but so are the consequences.

Which brings me to the pivot every Virginian knows deep down:

There is no substitute for preparation.

We joke about the bread and milk, but the real essentials aren’t nearly as funny - and they matter far more than whether you can make French toast during the apocalypse.

For Homes

• Check flashlights and stock extra batteries. Your phone flashlight doesn’t count when the battery dies.

• Insulate exposed pipes. A burst pipe is far more expensive than a bag of ice melt.

• Have a backup heat plan. Whether it’s a generator, firewood, or a safe alternative, don’t wait until the house feels like a walk-in freezer.

• Charge everything. Phones, laptops, portable chargers - all of it.

For Businesses

• Test remote-work systems. If employees can’t log in, productivity melts faster than a snowflake on a griddle.

• Communicate early. Staff appreciate clarity more than last-minute scramble emails.

• Protect your physical space. Salt walkways, secure signage, and check that emergency lighting works.

• Review your continuity plan. A storm is a great stress test - better to find gaps now than during a real crisis.

For Families

• Stock real food. Not just snacks. Think meals that don’t require power.

• Keep medications accessible. Especially for elderly relatives or kids with specific needs.

• Plan for boredom. Cards, board games, books — because cabin fever is real, and Wi-Fi is not immortal.

For Pets

• Bring them inside. If you’re cold, they’re cold.

• Have extra food and water. Delivery drivers are brave, but not that brave.

• Create a warm, safe space. Especially for older animals or small breeds.

So yes - laugh at the hype. Enjoy the memes. Make fun of the guy who buys 14 gallons of milk “just in case.”

But also take a moment to prepare. Winter storms don’t care how many times we’ve survived them before. They don’t care about our bravado or our jokes. They just show up.

And when they do, the difference between inconvenience and crisis is often measured in the quiet, unglamorous steps we take beforehand.

Stay warm, stay safe, and may your power stay on longer than the bread aisle stays stocked.

What are your greatest prep-tip hits and/or storm memories? Odds are we either discussed it in person during the event or via text or email!