I'm sorry but you guys down south are total babies. 2-3" and you issue a state of emergency, abandon cars on the highway? I understand snow compacts and you have no salt trucks really but good lord we've gotten 40" in January alone in Toledo, the roads are regularly ice covered.
Good god it's slush, during some of our big storms it's been 4" on I-75 alone around here and many country roads drifted over 2' or more
My best example is after the big storm at the beginning of the month that dumped a foot I took my buddy from Alabama to Meijers. It was only a 3 mile drive but he was freaking out the whole time, even shut my radio off lol. I legit on the way home gave him a lesson in driving in the snow. Just drive slower, do not make any sudden movements and everything must be gradual