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Photo courtesy of Image source: pexels.com
Photo courtesy of Image source: pexels.com
Guest Blogger
Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013

In Virginia, and the surrounding DC Metro area, we have been pretty lucky the past few years, and have not had to deal with snow. With the exception of last year’s snow storm on Christmas Eve, we had it pretty easy. All good things must come to an end, and we are now blessed with icy parking lots and snow covered cars. Living at a Camden apartment community, you may not think to have the essentials when it comes to snow. As a homeowner, you may not have the luxury of a fantastic maintenance staff to shovel the sidewalks and ice the parking lots. But what happens when the snow first falls, and you can’t wait for the team to clear out the community? There are certain things that apartment residents should consider keeping handy for cold weather scenarios, such as unexpected snow storms and freezing rain.

1. Invest in a shovel. I never even thought to get one, because I have not had a situation where I needed one living in an apartment. However, I needed to dig out my car the other night, and found myself out of luck. Thankfully, I had an amazing neighbor at Camden Fair Lakes that shared her shovel with me. (She will be rewarded with cookies). She may not always be around, so next time I am at Target, I will be picking up a shovel.

2. An ice scraper with a brush attached. Sadly I watched a gentleman scrape the ice off of his window this morning with an ice scraper the size of an iPhone. I had the privilege of having a scraper with a long handle and brush attached to it, therefore my ice scraping time was cut in half. And I need to give an honorable mention for creativity of ice scraping to my anonymous coworker who used a CD case.

3. Snow boots. I have a pair of Uggs, but honestly, they provide no traction whatsoever. The best time to stock up on snow boots is when they first hit the stores in the fall. That way, you will be prepared for days like this. My friend wears polka dot rain boots in the snow. They are cute, but have no insolation or traction. Sometimes you have to suck it up and go for function over fashion. If you see someone who may not have the items listed above, and you happen to have them, think about your neighbors and try to help them out. You never know how they may be able to help you out in the future. Above all else, make sure that you ALWAYS have your cell phone with you for emergencies. Contact your leasing office if you have any problems with heating or leaks. Report and incidents of slipping on ice, car accidents in the community, and trees falling to the office. We are here to help you. As my friend Hayley always says, “Be safe out there”.

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