The problem is that the Councils (and other sections of government.....) and companies are all run on a penny pinching criteria, nothing is left to 'just incase'. Everything is run right on the edge of cost, so when something like this happens, it tips right over the edge.
Just like companies. How many run on barely enough staff? Most I reckon, then when one or two fail to show, it all implodes...
Same with councils....keep just enough gritters to make a token gritting....but when theyre actually *needed* properly, there is nowhere near enough because theyve scrimped and saved......and they end up losing all the money theyve saved through closures and revenue loss....
Gross over simplification of course, but the sentiment I'm sure is sound...