The storm wasn’t that bad close to Lake Michigan—maybe 3” of snow and and only a day or so of sub-zero temperatures. I’m a couple of suburbs down from Winnetka and drive through there often when I’m out running errands. Your brother is undoubtedly a little upscale from me, but I have no complaints about my place.
I worked for one of the Chicago exchanges and after early retirement got on as a subcontractor for one of the big defense companies, which also do civilian work for other government agencies. One of my contracts was in DC, and many of the folks I worked with had also worked with Defense, so I have a good idea of what David Parker will be doing.