Comments on: Residents Ask: How Do You Clear THIS?

By: Crisis Communications Best Practices: Washington DC and the “Snowpocalypse” «

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:44:14 +0000

[...] 4) Make reasonable requests – during normal snowstorms, asking residents to shovel the sidewalks in front of their homes is fair. Not if the snow is a six foot ice drift. [...]

By: Grady Foster

Grady Foster — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:06:37 +0000

The shovel width thing is exactly what to do. Dig a narrow channel and the sun will get to work, even when the temps stay below freezing. Rest in between shovel fulls as needed and pick shovel fulls up with your lower body, not your back.

Personally, I expand the width after the sun has loosened the piles up a bit. You don’t need to do it all at once.

When I have a neighbor who is sick, disabled, out of town whatever, I just continue on and do their shoveling as well. It’s not a big deal. It’s just about doing the right thing.

By: ArlingtonAaron

ArlingtonAaron — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:24:21 +0000

How do you clear it? You don’t remove it all, but you cut a shovel-length path through any area where there is a sidewalk, or entrance to an intersection. With a shovel. Chop down into the snowpile to loosen hardened snow into small piles in front of you, and then remove them. And if you can’t do it, hire someone to do so. And if you can’t afford to hire someone, swallow your pride and ask for a favor on the neighborhood listserv.

Rocket science it is not. The excuses don’t cut it… and as Paula points out, the cost is more than just inconvenience.

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:53:02 +0000

I walk my dog every day along Military Rd. but do not see resuming our routine any time in the near future–and not by fault of the residents. There is no way that the sidewalks can be cleared. Even when it is not a record snow, the sidewalks are not cleared on Military. Last year, I slipped on ice in front of Zachary Taylor Nature Area and dislocated my knee. Thankfully, EMS in the county works great.