The Deadly Cost of "Winging It" -- When States Fail to Prepare for Winter Storms

The nation braces for cold weather right in line with our second part of our Winter Preparedness series. Last week, we gave a quick recap of the two historic winter storms of January 2025, touching on the aftermath. These winter storms didn't create failures—they exposed them. While ideal preparation starts weeks or months in advance, efforts made within 24 hours of the storm's landing made a difference.

States that have prepared for winter events won't wholly eliminate accidents or fatalities, but they can massively reduce the severity and amount. For interstates and corridors, the difference can mean safer travel, clearer communication, faster emergency response, and fewer supply chain disruptions.

Signs of a Prepared State

The Federal Highway Administration conducts regular studies in order to increase awareness of what measures effectively preserve life in the event of extreme weather.

A few indicators that a state is prepared are as follows:

• Clear, visible signage in snow, sleet, rain, and ice

• Proactive pretreatment of roads with salt or sand

• Early and decisive closures of roads, bridges, and interstates

• Clearly communicated detours and messaging that reduce traffic confusion

• Smoother flows of traffic at work zones and corridors

The Result

States that executed these measures even just one day prior to the January 2025 winter storms saw a decrease in general traffic. Businesses and schools announced closures with enough time for workers and parents to be safely in their homes. Detours and messaging were in place prior to the onset of weather. Roads were treated beforehand, reducing the amount of ice on roads, leading to fewer accidents and allowing for a smoother flow of traffic.

Signs a State Wasn't Ready

Credit: Charlie Herbst/Weather.gov; Damaged trees and power lines in Cape Girardeau County, MO.

When states failed to prepare, the consequences were quickly evident. These are the most consistent indicators of a lack of preparedness:

• Poor sign visibility in low-light, inclement weather, or icy conditions

• Delayed or inconsistent road treatments

• Confusing or conflicting messaging regarding traffic and detours

• Delayed or inconsistent closures regarding businesses, schools, roads, interstates, and bridges

• Reactive decision-making versus proactive planning

Failed Winter Storm Preparedness

Last January, we saw states that failed to notify their people about oncoming weather for both winter storms.

States that delayed emergency declarations left more drivers on the road as conditions worsened. Traffic and accidents increased as drivers were unsure of which roads were closed or what alternate routes were available. Emergency response vehicles were forced onto already-congested corridors, sometimes getting stuck themselves or being met with winter storm damage. People needing warming shelters couldn't reach them safely in time.

States that were fortunate enough to not experience fatalities as a consequence still paid the price.

The Supply Chain Disruption

When a state does not prepare for winter weather, the supply chain also suffers. Freight slows or stops altogether, inventory movement and labor schedules are disrupted. These challenges lead to issues with item availability, product damage due to weather, reduced workforce, increased overtime, more frequent weather-related accidents, and more.

From a business lens, this results in a literal high cost. For the weather events of 2024, FreightWaves totaled the global supply chain cost at $100 billion.

Through a more personal lens, we see the results of this in the overbuying of milk, bread, bottled water, and toilet paper as far as grocery staples go. Other items are also bought out in the categories of household goods, healthcare, and repair materials.

Before the Next Winter Storm

The US Army Corps of Engineers prepared a thorough guide for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), detailing measures for the "successful implementation of an … anti-icing program." This is a good resource for states looking to install a detailed program but are unsure of where to start.

A more concise resource is this overview from the FHWA on Road Weather Management.

We'll go ahead and sum up a few key points here, focusing on cost-effective actions states can enact prior to winter storm arrival:

• Inspect sign reflectivity, so messaging and guidance remain visible as weather worsens

• Secure all signage to prevent wind or ice damage

• Audit high-risk corridors for drainage issues, weak pavement, or vulnerable bridges

• Develop and rehearse response plans before conditions deteriorate

These response plans should include the following:

• Pretreatment for roads: materials ready and trucks pre-positioned for de-icing, sanding, or plowing

• Methodology to ensure consistent messaging regarding business, school, road, interstate, and bridge closures and traffic detours

Winter Storms Show What Works

The January storms of 2025 exposed cracks in systems that were disorganized and haphazard, the consequences of which led to increased infrastructure damage, numerous injuries, fatalities, and supply chain disruptions.

Preparedness shows in clear guidance, communication, decisive action, and infrastructure that performs in the worst conditions.

At Interstate Signways, we're proud to provide signage that stays visible in the harshest storms. Leave "winging it" to the birds: be prepared.