State of Emergency?

"A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans."

A few days ago, Western PA was placed in a "State of Emergency" due to the large amount of snow that hammered the Pittsburgh area. With this being said, nothing changed. People were still out, businesses for whatever reason still remained open, and the communities and their roads were FAR from "implementing emergency preparedness plans."

So, this raises in the question... what's the point of calling a state of emergency? Nothing changes.

Businesses, for example, probably would make more money closed than they would open. Why are people out? The roads are terrible, and if you've driven since the first fall, you might have noticed tons of cars parked or stranded on the side of the road COVERED in snow and blocking parts of roads. I might sound crazy, but the local government should try to enforce how important a "State of Emergency" truly is or completely change the policy behind it.

If cars are prohibited from the roads, salt and plow trucks can get out there and do their jobs without the weaving through cars and trucks stranded in their ways. If businesses close, employees can stay home safely with their families to avoid possible problems and/or major accidents. To me, to declare a "State of Emergency" is as dumb as Bush's "Terror Alert" using colors at random that no one even knows the meaning.

With all these negative comments, I suppose I need to throw out some thank yous and positivity...

Good job weather predictors... you were finally right!

... if only we would listen.