Portland and Seattle don't usually get a lot of inclement weather, so it really ties things up when it happens.

Does anyone have any particular ideas or advice for dealing with really bad weather, ice, snow, etc? It was so cold here last year that some people with well-insulated homes had their pipes freeze. Cars left outside didn't want to cooperate and when it got really bad traffic accidents were so numerous that overwhelmed police had to prioritize and go to the really bad ones first.

Any tips or advice that anyone could put up would be much appreciated.