Why do people panic before a snowstorm?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (54301)
November 28, 2025 6:20pm CST
I never did understand this, but I have lived in more areas that do get snow than others that don't. I had to go the pharmacy for son's meds, there is a grocery store next to CVS. I needed to get milk and check out the potatoes they advertised on sale, so I trotted right over there as soon as I picked up the meds.
OH, brother. How could I have forgotten that a snowstorm is on the way, due to hit in the dead of night--tonight? It was a circus in there. I did manage to score some milk. No potatoes left but we still have a few so we are fine. I didn't need bread, but the only bread they had left was hot dog and hamburger buns, and some type of healthy bread that was $7 a loaf. They were almost out of eggs.
This is the store manager we are friends with. He swears that every time snow is predicted, the same people come in for milk, bread, and eggs. He made the comment that people come to get basically just these three things, every time.
Are you a milk/bread/and egg person, and have to get them before a snowstorm? What does a person do with those things when the weather gets nasty? I guess make French Toast? Egg sandwiches?
21 people like this
18 responses
@AmbiePam (111917)
• United States
29 Nov
Milk, bread, and eggs are things I rarely have unless I am making something for someone.
We rarely have snowstorms, but every four years or so when we do, the shelves are cleared of all the basics, including that oh so desirable toilet paper.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
Oh,yes, it seems that many people fear to run out of TP. Just how long do they think they are going to be snowed in, anyway?
4 people like this
@kaylachan (82809)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Nov
I don't know what to tell you, but the same rings true when people think a hurricane is going to hit. For some reason, when disaster strikes, common sense goes out the window. People who aren't used to the hurricanes, freak out, and then you have those like us, who are supper chill about the whole thing.
You cam make comfort foods with those things I guess, I mean you'd think water was going to disappear durring a hurricane, because stores are suddenly out and can't stock it fast enough. I think it's the classic flight or fight mantaility you hear about.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (82809)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Nov
@MarieCoyle Yeah. I know. We have seen first hand how bad things could get. Thankfully, we haven't lost water during a hurricane, but we were thankful for that at least. Longest we've gone is a week without power. You just never know.
Last hurricane to hit, we didn't loose any because of our solar pannals.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
@kaylachan
I am sure the solar power has helped a lot during bad storms there.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
When I was pretty young, my family lived through a bad hurricane. No power and no water for two weeks. Dad couldn’t drive or get to work-no one could. Two fellows in a rowboat came by every day to bring everyone drinking water. That was before the craze of the endless little water bottles. They also sold food out of the boat. Dad cooked for us in the fireplace, we felt lucky to have that resource. You do what you can to make it through disaster.
3 people like this
@sallypup (67867)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Nov
If we hadn't moved from our last place,I would have begun buying extras in October. November through maybe March can be iffy over there. I would not panic but I would have known there could be weeks of me not wanting to drive on iffy roads. That scenario was one of the big factors for us thinking about moving when hubby retired.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
There are times here when it’s just not a good idea to be out and about. This is one of those times. I don’t panic, it does no good.
2 people like this
@sallypup (67867)
• Centralia, Washington
29 Nov
@MarieCoyle Just hunker down and stay safe and comfy as you can.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
@sallypup
We are staying home this weekend. I think I covered all the bases and son has his meds. Thanks!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (370754)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov
We don't get snowed in. I remember when the shops used to shut for FOUR WHOLE DAYS 
over Easter. People would stock up their carts like there was no tomorrow. They do much the same nowadays if there is one day that the shops shut but actually supermarkets are virtually never closed.
over Easter. People would stock up their carts like there was no tomorrow. They do much the same nowadays if there is one day that the shops shut but actually supermarkets are virtually never closed.2 people like this
@JudyEv (370754)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Nov
@MarieCoyle I think some do. I know one niece does. She has four sons almost adult and all at home. The house is tiny with very limited storage space so they mostly shop every day.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
You have to wonder if some of these people actually go to the store pretty much every day? I don’t want to. It’s just not cost effective nor is it a good use of time.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
@JudyEv
I honestly think I would not like shopping every day. I just want to go and get enough to last for a bit so that I don't have to go back anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (212770)
• United States
29 Nov
I never have milk or eggs in the house. Once and a while I will save my Meals on Wheels milk for cousin #2's dog.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (212770)
• United States
30 Nov
@MarieCoyle I just looked it up. It said small quantities are OK. More than that can lead to lactose intolerance and obesity. Her dog has gained weight and can't fit into his sweaters.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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2 Dec
@LindaOHio
When a dog gets too heavy, it shortens their life. I am surprised she doesn't put the pup on a doggy-diet.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
Every veterinarian I have ever taken pets to has told me to never give a dog milk, I am surprised she does.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9910)
• Calcutta, India
29 Nov
Yeah going out in the snow must be tough. But if you have everything stored in the house, it's great!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
I keep a basic enough pantry that I can make breads, some scratch meals, etc. Sometimes, I just can't get out because of my son, so we do have to keep some basic items. We are staying home today.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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2 Dec
@Dreamerby
It's just not always convenient to try to get to the store, so I do it as seldom as possible.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9910)
• Calcutta, India
30 Nov
@MarieCoyle Yeah that is good practice.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
And we will never forget the people who panicked over the toilet paper, and bought every roll of it that they could find!
1 person likes this
@much2say (57757)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Nov
We don't have these kinds of storms here, but if something completely out of the ordinary happens (big bad earthquake or pandemic) - that's when people go nuts at the store. Seems like water is the first thing to fly off the shelves. I don't know about what other items go, but I do think folks panic and get what all they can take - it doesn't happen here often so maybe that's why they selfishly take too much. I sort of learned during the pandemic to be without milk, bread, and eggs (or at least stretch those ingredients!).
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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30 Nov
I always keep some water. We have had a few boil orders in the past, so it seems to be a good idea to keep a few gallons of water on hand for the 'just in case' scenarios. I also have kept a can of powdered milk, always. Milk use seems to come and go, sometimes I run out when I need some in a dish I am cooking, etc. so I keep the powdered for if I am out and just can't get to the store. It cooks the very same, and tastes fine. I don't drink milk by itself. The son will drink the powdered and says it's fine, too, so it works out to always have a bit of it to fall back on. I bake a lot of our bread so that's not a problem.
During the pandemic we got really inventive, didn't we?
@FourWalls (82629)
• United States
29 Nov
I told my dear mother of blessed memory one time that people should just stock up on Bisquik and powdered milk for snow storms. She roared laughing with that one.
I’ve got lots of soup and canned chicken and potatoes, so I can hold out. But not for long…too much sn*w and I’ll have to run away to Florida. 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (82629)
• United States
29 Nov
@MarieCoyle — can’t leave until after the 22nd because of doctors appointments.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
I am very glad you are not out on the Midwest roads right now, it's not easy driving in this. Florida will still be there when you get there!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
@FourWalls
Dr. appointments and procedures etc. rule life for son and I, so I totally understand that!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
We have to keep basics...hey, oatmeal can be a good meal, soups, etc.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (492400)
• Italy
29 Nov
Oh my goodness, I cannot believe that people get into panic because of a snowstorm. I remember that people went into panic when the Russia/Ukraine war started. Here in Italy and in the south of Switzerland old people still remember WWII and they rush to stock everything they can when they hear the word "war".
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (492400)
• Italy
30 Nov
@MarieCoyle - My grandmother talked about WWII many times. The Germans had confiscated all food they could find. The families only had a little bread, no butter, no oil, no eggs, no milk and NO coffee!!! She remembers she ate potatoes and canned beans most of the time and they had to rush to the shelters many times every day hoping not to remain trapped inside because of a bomb hitting their building. I remember we played among the ruins of destroyed buildings when I was a little girl. 40% of buildings in Milan was destroyed during WWII, even the Duomo was badly damaged.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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30 Nov
@LadyDuck
I know that the worry of hunting for food to buy and worrying that their children might not get enough food made my grandparents worry, they had gardens, too. The time of struggling was very real, and instilled frugality in them for life. They never wasted anything. They were great cooks and seamstresses.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
I grew up hearing about wars from my Dad and grandfathers and uncles...they were all in a war. But as for the panic thing about food, at least during the Great Depression, I believe many, many people struggled to afford food then. I know it worried both sets of grandparents for a time, worrying about not having enough food for their families. I can understand their fears of not having food, if they feel under threat of war.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (128980)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Nov
It is the same here and since Ohio regularly gets snow you would think they would be ready.
1 person likes this
@nela13 (59177)
• Portugal
10 Dec
@MarieCoyle Do you run out of power when there is a snow storm?
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
Yes, some storms are a lot longer than others, and if the temperatures stay low, it doesn't melt.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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11 Dec
@nela13
We never ''run out'' of power. If we have a bad storm, losing power for a few minutes to a few hours does happen sometimes, but we have work crews who work 24/7 to get it back on again. It could happen if it were warm and there was a tornado, or very cold with high winds and a heavy snow. A person never knows.
@arunima25 (92887)
• Bangalore, India
29 Nov
People get into panic buying when there is any prediction of natural calamity or other emergency situation. I guess these items are basic ones in your part. I don't use much of bread.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (92887)
• Bangalore, India
30 Nov
@MarieCoyle We have bread of different kinds called chapati that is made fresh from flour. Well, that's the traditional thing. With global influence, these baked breads have become common household item here too. My younger daughter bakes bread from scratch. That is so much better than the ones that we buy in stores
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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2 Dec
@arunima25
Yes, it is. We have what is called artisanal breads, which I guess means higher quality or ''fancy'' but they are expensive. I do know our homemade bread tastes the best.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (54301)
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29 Nov
We keep bread, or make bread, for our home. Most people here do. I know I enjoy my toast. I think of basics as things that help make everyday meals--vegetables, meats or other proteins, fruits, breads....so I need to strive for that in some form.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (167551)
• United States
29 Nov
If I don't have it, I must not need it. I refuse to be a panic buyer. I am a little short on bread right now, but the secret is that I have "ingredients" so I can make it if I need it. I would worry about cat food and kitty litter, but I stay stocked on that too.
@celticeagle (184952)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Nov
If these people are anything like me, they eat them every day. Eggs that is. And I think people panic before a snowstorm for the same reason they seem drive faster after a heavy snow fall. I used to drive at a snail's pace (well, maybe a snail but slower than usual anyway) because I am fearful of black ice being under that snow.
@LeaPea2417 (39410)
• Toccoa, Georgia
29 Nov
The reason people panic here in the South is because it doesn't snow here often and people don't know how to drive in snow, so they shop before so that they don't have to be out in it in their cars, risking accidents.
@RasmaSandra (93797)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 Nov
Never pacnicked with a snowstorm coming in my life, Always felt sure I would make it through,
