The UK has this "unprepared" problem.
Anywhere south of Scotland and the North East of England and we hope the flood/snow/ice won't get us this year and so "chance it"!
If we live in the Midlands or south then nine years out of ten we get away with it. The other year we get really caught out and moan and whinge and blame the government.
This year it was reported that trains in the South East would be delayed because of "low-sun" dazzling drivers at commuting times! I mean - as if the Sun changes it's trajectory each winter! Infamously "leaves on the line" brought commuting around London to a standstill one autumn because the wet leaves stopped the locomotive's engines gripping the tracks!
As the German guest laments about the English in WW2 in the Fawlty Towers sitcom "However did they win?"