Americans brace for dangerous winter storm across multiple states
Millions of Americans are under winter storm warnings as snow and ice threaten travel and safety across the country.
Americans are rushing to grocery stores to stock up on essentials as more than half of the country braces for a major winter storm. With temperatures expected to drop over the weekend, people may be tempted to use food delivery services instead of braving the cold.
But experts say ordering food delivery during inclement weather poses difficult ethical dilemmas.
Brad Fulton, associate professor of business and social policy at Indiana University Bloomington, said it involves “competing values” such as “worker safety, worker economic security, and consumer needs.”
It’s normal to want convenience during storms, but some consumers forget to consider the safety of their delivery drivers. However, some workers rely on food delivery as their only source of income, which can be threatened by missed deliveries or fewer orders during bad weather.
So, if you’re having trouble ordering after the snow falls, here’s what to do and what you can do instead.
If you choose delivery, please leave a generous tip
This conversation doesn’t just highlight ethical dilemmas; Fulton said it also reveals “the fragility of our economic system.”
“In dangerous situations, workers must choose between income and safety,” he explains.
If you’re ordering food during a snowstorm, Fulton recommends leaving a generous tip.
Additionally, food delivery companies may offer bonuses to drivers for deliveries during inclement weather to offset the additional burden, he says.
Avoid panic buying and stock up on essentials
If you try to plan ahead, you may end up panic buying. This is not a new phenomenon, but it can be an annoying one, especially for people trying to shop for regular grocery carts.
Photos, news reports and social media posts showed empty grocery shelves across the country following forecasts of extreme cold and heavy snow. It’s not just cans of soup and batteries that shoppers are stocking up on, but fresh produce and regular groceries as well.
And while the storm is predicted to be severe, experts say it’s not realistic for people to stock up on toilet paper at local stores. It’s fear and maybe a little bit of peer pressure as well.
When it comes to food, the National Weather Service recommends stocking up on additional food and water, including non-perishable foods like granola bars, nuts and dried fruit, and infant essentials like formula.
You can also plan to order or pick up food before the storm, or reheat leftovers if you’re stuck indoors during or after a snowfall. Meal prepping can also help you resist the urge to order delivery during inclement weather and stop ethical dilemmas (to some extent).
Contributor: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
