Just because we live in the south it doesn't mean that people are not snow bound at home. Motorways may be clear but for those in rural areas many small roads are feet deep in snow. Drifts 12 foot deep near Marlborough. Someone rescued after spending a night in a drift with the car nearly covered in snow.
My DS lives in Glastonbury, with her house standing 20 foot above the road, access by a steep concrete steps, she would certainly have been unable to get out had she not gone to London by train on Wednesday, meant to be a day trip, she is still there three days later having had to pay for a three nights in a hotel because with the trains cancelled she cannot get home.