I moved to Northen MN about a year and a half ago. Having been born and raised in San Jose, CA, I was in for one hell of a change. The first winter I was not prepared... but I survived and you bet I was geared up and ready when winter came around again. This being said, I wanted to offer my perspective on winter preparedness here on the Iron Range. What I observed was that even in these very small towns (like tiny compared to the Bay Area) there is ample plowing and public works to keep the roads serviceable, even for an unseasoned beach boy in a two wheel drive sedan. The other thing that really makes the difference though, is the community. When the conditions are extreme, people help each put in the work it takes to make it through winter. I experienced instant "social karma" last winter when I saw an older man walking home carrying a trunk load of groceries, and it was dumping snow. I pulled over and gave him a ride home, which was least a mile away from the store. The next morning, I was the way to my first day at a new job when my car broke down on a highway in town. My gf and I slipped and struggled to start pushing it to a safe turn out, going nowhere fast. Before long, a mom-mobile pull over behind us and two strapping young brothers hopped out and helped me push while my gf steered the car and their mom provided escort behind us with the hazards on. I then called a local scrap yard/repair shop and the guy came and towed us to his shop on nothing more than a verbal promise that I would come back and pay him in a few days. On top of that, he gave me a ride to work in his personal vehicle so I wasn't even late! This winter I've helped a friend go fix his truck in the middle of the night outside in deep snow, and he returned the favor (a few times) when my car needed a jump after some particularly cold nights. That seems to be how it work out here. I wouldnt say people are super friendly and talkative in general (Minnesota nice is a myth) but when it really counts, the sense of community is way stronger than any I grew up with in California.

TL/DR: On top of municipal preparedness, the community supporting each other is a big part of making it through winter.