Having been in Indiana after heavy snowfall it is fair to say that while the people of Indiana just get on with their lives, we only need a couple of millimetres of snow here and everything stops. You should share this thread with your local friends and see just how much they laugh over our reaction to snow.
Most places where snow is guaranteed every winter people will put snow/winter tyres on their car (and the buses/delivery trucks too) they’ll have snow ploughs, a proper winter wardrobe etc. so yes they’re “just getting in with their lives” but they are prepared for it. Here snow is so infrequent no one has a clue what to do and is totally unprepared for it.