The shelves go empty everytime there is a mention of snow or ice.
Madness ensues at the mere mention of a winter storm or ‘Bama Winter.
Everyone rushes to the grocery store to purchase bread, milk and maybe eggs. But why?
The results always piled up on the kitchen counter and in the refrigerator.
The shopping list is always the same — a few loaves of bread, a couple gallons of milk and eggs. So often the power is only out for a few hours at most. We return to our regular routines.
We rarely break into our extra inventory.
I for one bought into the frenzy of toilet paper during the COVID-19 pandemic. I just used my last roll of luxurious wiping material late last year from that purchasing spree.
With the most recent cold snap I was reminded yet again of the shopping list. Friends posted photos on social media of empty shelves. They look the same every single time.
Are they the same?
While I was thinking about it, I looked at my counter. I had a loaf of bread. I had creamer for my coffee. I had plenty of canned goods. I had enough inventory that if I were to stay in my house and not open the door, I could stay for a week or more and survive.
This ‘Bama Winter I stayed away from the stores. I didn’t buy a thing in the frenzy. I noticed many of the reminders leave off sandwich meat and cereal. Milk and bread don’t go together too well.
Many will soon forget they bought bread and milk, besides how often do you see them served together?
I’ve never seen a milk sandwich.
I might ask you if I can have a loaf of bread then as I will need some. The stores will have plenty, but why buy when your friends have too much and will share? Another week will go by and we will be wearing sandals and flip flops.
In about a week or so, many will open the refrigerator to some awful smells and close it again.
The second ‘Bama Winter will come about Easter.
It is then some realize they let their inventory from this week of milk and eggs waste. But they didn’t learn their lesson and will return to the milk frenzy again.
Sometimes I think the weather prognosticators drop hints about storms to add to their story. I sometimes wonder if they get bonuses from bakeries and dairies.
But I know better. They don’t. They, like everyone else, see an impending storm coming and start to prepare. They want us to prepare too.
It’s time we learn to prepare before the warning of a storm.
We have folks at EMA who tell us to have water and supplies on hand for up to three days at all times.
It’s not hard. The items are likely in everyone’s homes already. We just need to invest a little time, create lists and be ready to execute a plan. I look forward to seeing everyone living out their lives again next week.
Cliff Williams is the new editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers.
