We Atlantans often become an object of ridicule when the winter season comes around. Why? Because of light, puffy, magical crystal ice — snow.

Seeing snow in Atlanta is just about as rare as seeing a Chick-fil-A in the North (actually, probably even rarer than that). Thus, we react differently when the weather forecast anticipates snow.

Only one week into 2017, Atlanta weather forecasts are already predicting anywhere from one to four inches of snow. Naturally, this sent everyone into a frenzy. Schools everywhere announced noon dismissals, several businesses advised employees to work from home and many people rushed home. Grocery stores have become a madhouse as families fight to stock up on necessities to brave through the blizzard.

Cue the laughter.

We know, this may seem like nothing compared to the amount of snow in other parts of the country, but to us, it's a lot. In fact, a winter storm warning was recently issued to the Metro Atlanta area.

People make fun of us for "overreacting" at the mere mention of snow, but I think we do so for good reason. After all, we live in the South. We can brave the heat. The cold? Not so much. We aren't equipped with the same resources as say New York or Massachusetts would have to handle snowfall.

In 2014, Atlanta was struck by "Snowmaggedon," a memorable snowfall that lasted nearly a week. Unprepared and unaccustomed, Atlantans everywhere faced obstacles throughout the week.

Drivers found themselves gridlocked as ice covered the roads, and everyone rushed to head home. Schoolchildren were stranded in buses, and many even ended up staying overnight at schools. People opted to stay snug inside their homes. And this was all the result of a few inches of snow.

It seems crazy when we hear about several northern states getting far more inches, or even feet, of snow in their yards.

Let me justify this overreaction for you. When people face uncertainty, they freak out. They over-prepare. They formulate a plan to prevent the worst-case scenario from happening. We don't have as efficient of snow plows, and we're simply not prepared with shovels or salt. Furthermore, inclement weather traps many people in the world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, in Atlanta.

So laugh away as you may — it is pretty funny, but just remember that Atlantans are not without a backbone. At the end of the day, we all value safety, and it is the purpose fueling all of our actions.