Hmmm…most people I know have an ice scraper somewhere, even if they don’t actually keep it in their car. It actually snows a couple of times a winter around here, but it’s rarely over an inch. But of course you don’t need an ice scraper for snow - you need it for ice, and we can get some mean ice storms around here.
It means I have died and gone to hell, which by definition is anyplace where it snows on a regular basis. Or even a semi-regular basis.
Yes. Go inside where it is warm and wait until spring.
Horridly warm? The only place where it gets horridly warm in the United States is Death Valley. Everywhere else is nice.
And what in the world are beach tags?
I grew up in Delaware, which isn’t really southern but it doesn’t snow much, and then I lived in Virginia. I usually had a little ice scraper for icy mornings, but I didn’t know about the brush/scraper with the long handle until I moved to Chicago. Now I always keep one in my car. I also have just a regular ice scraper. It seems like most people around here don’t have ice scrapers–I’ve seen other people out in the parking lot after work on a snowy day, trying to figure out how to clean off their cars so they can drive home.
I don’t have a good plan for digging my car out of a snow bank–my solution to that problem is to not live where it snows that much. If it snows, I can’t get my car out of the driveway anyway, and my street never gets plowed, so basically I don’t drive anywhere until the snow melts off, which usually only takes a couple of days. If it’s icy, I’d rather just stay home and drink hot chocolate.
I moved from Ohio to Dallas last year. Dallas had snow one day. The way the freeways are built here means that they’re likely to be covered in ice. I know how to use a snow brush and ice scraper. But, I certainly didn’t want to be out there. Umm, Bubba, even though you do have the biggest truck available, it can still slide across the road when you’re trying to do 75 and acclerating up an elevated freeway and ignoring the “May ICE in winter.” sign.
My Texan nieces came up to visit New York last Christmas. They were all fascinated by the concept of a “snow stick” after they saw it in my car and I explained what it was.
Aah. One of the most ridiculous things from New Jersey, ever. When you go to the beach, you have to pay for the privilage of sitting on the beach, just a couple bucks. If you try to not do so, inevitably an older woman (it’s always an older woman for some reason) will come up and harrass you. You give her the cash, she gives you a little plastic tag to pin onto your stuff to indicate that you’ve paid.
Hm. Now I know that, the first time it snows this winter? I’m going to go out into the parking lot and watch all the southerners struggle. And I shall mock them lovingly. 
We don’t have snow here, but we do have plenty of beaches. We are not, however, idiots, and can deal with snow when we visit those quaint places that do get snow. IME many people in the northern places I’ve lived are complete idiots in the snow, and many of them apparently like to come visit here and screw up our traffic, too.
I have no idea what a beach tag is.
I’m from the Pac NW (which isn’t exactly southern) and I’m pretty sure I have an ice scraper in the trunk (probably - I’d most likely just use the first thing that I found with an edge) - I don’t know what a snow brush is.
If my sidewalk were ice & snow covered, I would go inside and wait for it to go away. If my car needs digging out of a parking lot, it’s probably happy there - it can wait. Everyone will understand.
Not me (I was born and raised here in Toronto), but when we were at college my now-husband had two roommates from Arkansas. In September they volunteered to shovel snow all winter. We were at school in Ottawa.
They did it, though. And they very quickly learned to appreciate rock salt and sand.
Different strokes for different folks.
13 years now at 11,200 feet. Once. On April 19th 1995(the day of the OK bombing I did not go in to work) because of snow. We got about 2 1/5 feet that night. My girl friends (now Wife) car was on the ‘road’. I had to dig it out to make room. My CJ did OK and did get out that day. I decided to stay home.
We did have one fella at work that complained about having to drive in when it was snowing. He ended up with a DUI and no job after he hit a goat in the local town. In the summer. He was arrested on a goat hit and run at the liquor store. I’m glad he’s off the road.
I think I’ve told this anecdote in a similar thread before, but what the heck.
I’m from Northern California, where it does get chilly in the winter, but only very, very rarely cold enough to snow. (Twice in the 23 year I lived there, and only a teensy amount both times.) Then I moved to Michigan. Pretty much the first thing I did when I got there was total my car, so when Ms. Dr. CrankyAsAnOldMan was going out of town for a few days, she very kindly lent me her car while she was gone. It was late fall or early winter and she mentioned something about there being an ice scraper in the back seat, in case I needed it. I remember hoping it wouldn’t be necessary, since I had no idea what an ice scraper looked like. When it freezes in California, we’d just pour lukewarm water on the windshield. Never any need for something more hardcore than that!
After three Midwestern winters, I am proud to say that yes, I do know what an ice scraper looks like! I’ve never actually used one, but I know what it is. An ice brush…is that the brush that’s attached to the scraper?
What’s a snow stick? I’ve never heard of that.
I’ve never shoveled snow. Or had a snowball fight. I have gone sledding, I went once in Reno when I was small. (I’d love to go again, but Chicago is sadly lacking in hills.)
BTW, the word is Hawaiian. But I recently learned that you’re only Hawaiian if you’re actually ethnically Hawaiian. Everyone else is just “from Hawaii”.
I’ve spent most of my life in the South. Before I’d lived anywhere else, I could identify an ice-scraper; this may be due to my step-father being from snowy West Virginia. I keep an old spatula in my truck for the rare occasions when I need one now. I’ve never heard of a snow-brush though, even after spending a few winters in Kansas, Colorado, and Iowa.
Yes. Stay home, get drunk, and then go find a hill to slide down on a cardboard box (trash-can lid, turntable cover, old mattress; anything big and flat will do). It’s what Southerners call a “snow day,” and everyone is excused from work, school, everything. It’s magic.
You neglected the most important part (other than the drunk part). At the first mention of the possibility of snow on the news, rush to the grocery store to stock up on milk, bread and beer. Go home and watch the news reports about the craziness of the grocery stores and wait for the special reports when the first flake falls. Stay up late, so that when it doesn’t snow and you have to report to work the next day, you’re tired and grumpy.
And hung over.
Color me clueless about snow.
I have much respect for those that can navigate a car in it.
Here in MS, the state grinds to a halt for an inch of the rare white stuff.
I’m in Memphis and we get lots of ice and occasional light snow. I know what an ice scraper is. I have one in my trunk, a big long one with a brush on one end. It’s quite handy.
Except when the trunk is frozen shut on one of those surprise ice storms we always seem to have. Then the tape case becomes quite handy. I’ve also used my driver’s license if the ice isn’t too hard.
I wouldn’t know how to dig my car out of any snow but I’d love to visit a place where it would be necessary!
My Dad flew into Lynchburg from Detroit, one day, on business. He went up to the rental car counter, identified himself, and asked for his reserved car. The clerk replied that they had no cars. Dad looked out the window at the entire parking lot full of cars beneath the agency’s names and back at the clerk and asked just what nonsense he was being handed. The clerk replied, “It is snowing.” Dad looked at the dusting of snow–well under 1/2 inch–on the ground and told the clerk, “I drove 35 miles through a fresh 6” snowfall to get to the airport in Detroit and you’re telling me that you can’t rent me a car because of that."
The clerk replied, “Sir, you may be able to drive through the snow, but the locals cannot. We do not rent cars when it snows.”
This is sadly true. There are two sets of horrible winter drivers in the North: those who recently moved up from the South and have not yet learned to drive in the snow and those who are simply too stupid to learn. I have never gotten stuck to point of needing assistance to get out in 39 years of driving, but I pay attention to conditions and I bring the proper equipment to handle different situations. (When I was much younger, I also took my car into unplowed parking lots to see how it would handle in heavier snowfalls so that I knew how to manage the conditions. I’ve never had four wheel drive (except on a couple of Deb’s trucks) and I’ve never needed it.)
I know what an ice-scraper is. I considered buying one when we had a weird ice-storm in Atlanta last year but now that I’ve moved back to south Georgia, I’m pretty sure it would be a complete waste. Even then, I probably would have used it maybe twice last year…
I’ve figured out exactly what a snow brush is reading this thread and I could have guessed from the name but I didn’t know such a thing existed (and I did live in WA state for 3 years…but on the west side, so we only got snow a few times).
Nope, but I’m pretty sure I could figure it out if I had to. Thing is, knowing that Southerners like myself don’t know how to drive in such conditions, it would have to be a necessary trip out of the house. Otherwise I’d be waiting until the snow melted enough to make the trip.
Stay inside under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. Why would I need to deal with it?? It’s cold outside!
I’m glad Clothahump asked you about the beach tags. I grew up in a beachside community and have never heard of such a thing. You Yankees are weird! 
Ah, enlightenment. Now I know something new.
Well, if you are somewhere that it snows on a regular basis, you’re not really in the South. For example, the last time it snowed here in Houston was in the 1960s. For 20 minutes. (sorry, I just had to say that)
Actually, it snowed last winter. Once, for about two hours or so (I have pictures). I don’t recall snow falling in Houston before that for more than 10 years. That’s the way it should be.
Wisconsinite checking in here.
We get lots of snow.
I can’t fathom anyone not being able to drive if an inch or two falls to the ground like some of you southerners are saying. We need to have a good foot of snow here before passage is doomed, and even when that happens the plows and salt trucks are out there as it’s snowing with cars following righ behind. Driving in snow has never been a problem for me, I kind of enjoy it.
The ritual for clearing the car in the morning after a heavy snowfall ( I could park in the garage, but the melting snow and salt really pig up the garage floor) is to fill a gallon jug of warm (not hot, don’t want to crack the windows) tap water, clear the car of most snow with a regular kitchen broom, start the car and turn the heat on high with the defrosters on, then give the windows more attention with the snow brush/scraper, then finish off the job by pouring the warm water on the windows, wipers, and on the door locks/handles if they need to be freed up. I don’t have problems with the water refreezing before it does it’s work.
If you drive in the snow, you need to do so with confidence and assertiveness, but not aggressiveness. Wussies or daredevils are the ones who get stuck and cause the accidents or screw up traffic.