The time for the salt or other chemical is before the snow or rain begins. The time for sand or sand and salt is right after the heavy portion of the snow is removed or packed by use. Folks from down south are a hoot to watch around here. They seem to think they can assault the snow with their car or truck. If they can get up to speed they seem to be very surprised if they slide off the road and crash or cannot stop at the first stop sign they encounter. Another one is if they can go downhill on ice they will always go uphill instead. They will burn rubber off for hours instead of backing up. None of them own a shovel. None of them seem to think the end of driveway pile should require some shoveling. All of them ask for help but seem bewildered if you hand them a shovel and shut the door. I have three couples on my street from North Carolina, Tenn, Georgia, and Texas. They all leave or try to leave for work at the same time as always after half a foot or more of snow. None of them can figure out the snowplow. In the same neighborhood a fellow from New York and his wife live and work at the same place. He owns several shovels, lots of salt, a salt spreader, tire chains, overshoes, a winter survival kit, extra gas in the garage, a toolkit, extra antifreeze, extra windshield antifreeze, jumper cables, a charger, a portable compressor, a portable battery booster, and some road flares. He has more than he needs and the other folks have nothing they need. I love the young folks from the South, but they sure can be hard to explain winter to.
