I don't know why so many died, but there was adequate warning. One State over, our governor told business to close early and told people to be off the roads at 4pm. People up north here in the snow belt know the drill, prepare for power outage, keep the vents cleared, etc.Don't go out! Check on the elderly and ill before the storm, just stay low. the animals know this, they hunker down in a safe place till its over. A blizzard around Buffalo means no messing around, the snow comes down heavy and fast, the cold is deadly. I suppose there are people full of self confidence that they can outsmart or are strong enough to face serious weather, the same with folks who stay on the beach during a hurricane. Despite all the things a person can do to survive, there will always be fatalities due to severe weather.I heard of one woman who was trying to get back into her home when a tree fell on her. They call natural disasters "acts of God". Or used to. It must be respected in that way too. The only comfort in this, is that hypothermia is not a painful death, there are more painful ways to go.