Yes, an isolated ski resort in the mountains of 8,000 people with routine massive snows is directly comparable to a densely urbanized region of 15 million plus people that receives a snow like this once a decade.
So you think it is safer to travel on winding mountain roads in heavy snow than mostly FLAT ROADS in a City?? Little early to be drinking aint it?
I remember, very well, the blizzard of 1978...arguably worse than this one....AND PEOPLE DIDN’T PANIC.
Basically, in the past 35 years, the nation has become sissified.