jessie,
Wasn't the snow earlier simply gorgeous? The flakes were so big. It has totally taken all my 'cold blues' away. LOL. Think the snow has also helped raised the temps a little. Hopefully you're not having the ice problems anymore.
Yes, you are right in saying ANYTHING can happen and we have to be mentally prepared. Actually even before Nat came along, ever since I moved to China, I told myelf, ANYTHING can possibly happen. Think being in Singapore, we have been way too sheltered. Everytime I go back and take a taxi, and the driver complains to me about how much he hates being in Singapore, I roll my eyes. I think people who haven't travelled out of the country will always think that they're in a shitty place. Not until they have travelled out and then realized how much worse conditions other parts of the world is, then they'll realize.
I am not speaking for the government but honestly, I think they did a great job. HDB for one, is a great project. If it weren't for that, middle class people like us will probably still live in slums? Where in the world can you find decent affordable housing? Yes, while prices have increased for property, so have our standards of living. When you compare housing back in Sgp and housing here, oh man ... my condo here can't even be near where my HDB in Sgp is in terms of quality.
In fact, it didn't take me living in China to realize how good we are back home. When I was traveling to US and realize how inaccessible a lot of places are without a car and I think back about Singapore and it's public transportation, I think it's done a fabulous job. So yeah ... why do Singaporeans enjoy complaining so much ... maybe it's become very much a way of life, just like kiasu-ism?