Preparing for snow storms

With a snow storm brewing over the Delaware Valley, residents are rushing to stores. As WHYY’s Maiken Scott found out – panicked food shopping is about being prepared for the worst – and seeking comfort during bad weather.

With a snow storm brewing over the Delaware Valley, residents are rushing to stores. As WHYY’s Maiken Scott found out – panicked food shopping is about being prepared for the worst – and seeking comfort during bad weather. [audio:100205mspaic.mp3]

Merchants at Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market say it’s been busy since yesterday afternoon, when forecasters first predicted heavy snowfall for this weekend.

Charles Giunta of Giunta Meats says customers are buying the ingredients for comfort food:

Giunta: You know everybody is looking for a pot roast or an oven roast, meatloaf, meatloaf is a big thing, we’ve sold ton of meatloaf mix!

Temple University Psychologist Frank Farley says snow annoys many people because Americans like to be “on the go”:

Farley: You know we’re an extremely mobile society, and the thing about snow is that is has an exceptional ability to cabin crib and confine us, to borrow from Shakespeare.

Farley adds that for many people, snow storms present a welcome opportunity to spend time with loved ones.

That’s true in Kate Dunegan’s Queen Village neighborhood:

Dunegan: Live in the city, the neighbors get together and have a great time, we’re just gleeful, we just want to be stocked up!

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says the city is ready for the snow, and key roads will be cleared.

Nutter: We do what we have to do to clear our streets, and make sure that people can get around and that they are safe. It is virtually impossible to predict when we’re going to get snow, how much it is going to cost, we deal with this from a fiscal standpoint, hope for the best, plan for the worst, and we’ll be ready