As a lot of you will probably know, a winter storm has hit the East Coast and my town is now buried under two feet of snow. Cars are covered, streets are icy, and sidewalks are slippery. I was wondering if anybody had some good ideas about what I could do to help my community out. This is partially directed at Polarman, but while I had a few ideas of what I could do I was wondering about other's opinions and thoughts.

So, ideas?

I hadn't heard about that.

What about doing patrols for people in trouble because of the storm. A snowmobile or four-wheeler would come in handy for this type of thing. Then you could carry around something to help people get traction for their cars.

Would salting sidewalks help after the snow and ice is already there, or is that more of a preemptive thing?

try to get food to shut-ins.

You could also help shovel so that others can get out and help.

I've been going around and making sure that paths the school claimed are "open" really are, as well as clearing some ice off of major sidewalks. I am thinking of giving out some hot cocoa to people sometimes during this week.

I need to get shovel, because there is only so much you can do with your hands and feet.

Wal-Mart $5.00 for snow shovel. Saw it the last time I was there.

stay safe, mr. jack

You know, we get lots of snow in Saskatoon too, not just Iqaluit. Just sayin'.

Some stores up here sell extra wide two-handed shovels that make clearing sidewalks and other pathways much easier. See if you can find something like this:

Wow that looks like something out of Polarman's favorite magazine
Play-shovel

get it? playboy... play shovel hahahahhahahah huh? huh?...nobody appreciates my humor

Its not that we don't appreciate your humor. its that we don't get your humor. LOL

During winter storms, however, what I have been known to do, since I have been a professional driver for many years, is hit the streets looking for stranded motorists I can help. Especially on the freeways. I have stopped when I have found people spun out on the road and helped get someone out with the proper equipment to get their vehicle picked up or pulled back to the road.

We have now approximately three feet of snow in our town. Cars are buried underneath. Sometimes you cannot even tell where they are. So, that being said, I do believe that I will be venturing out to clear off cars sometime tonight.

This is also partly spurred on by the fact that there was a guy who sent out a mass e-mail saying he would clean cars off for money. I take this as a personal challenge and proof that I have not been doing my part. Time to clean some cars.

Operation: Clean Sweep is a go.

Good luck.

Thank you Patriot.

I have had to fashion a make shift snow remover, as I could not spare to get one from the school, and I have no money to speak of to buy one otherwise. I have take a fairly hardy stick and through tape, coiling wires, and ties, I have secured a dustpan to one end of it. I put a garbage bag over that and used the ties at the end of the garbage bag to further fasten the contratption.

Here is a picture:


I can assure you that the branch is quite sturdy. About an inch in diameter, springy, but not weak. The fastened pan is also quite secure. The whole contraption is about 5 feet and 6 inches tall, so it should give me the leverage and reach that I need for car cleaning.

I plan to go out late so as not to draw to much attention.

That is the ugliest snow remover I've ever seen, but it looks effective enough.

Haha. My thoughts exactly. I just need it to get the job done, though, and I feel pretty confident about it.

Don't forget to take a big thermos full of coco with you haha

and good luck old chum

Thanks Minuteman. (^^)

I am debating as to whether I should wear my mask out to do this. I think I will be, just because it will keep my face warm, but I also will wear a hood. I just do not want to get bothered by the Department of Safety too much tonight. I will have a lot to do, and I do not need them complicating things. Though, they cannot arrest me, so it really is a very moot point.

I suppose this is just the nerves talking, really. I'm excited but also kind of hesitant in a weird way. But excited.

I went out. I took a ski mask so that my face would stay warm. I was out there for about an hour and a half and got 5 cars cleared off. I need a better tool than my little homemade shovel if I am going to get more than that done, and I will probably need to go out earlier so as to get more cars finished.

I feel pretty successful though. The only police interaction was an officer who just came over, checked up on what I was doing and why, and when I told him he went on his way.

Overall, I think a minor success. Now if I can just get a real shovel.

Nice work there, Mr. Jack.

Thank you, Idea Man. (^^)

I will be taking a night off tonight because I have class tomorrow morning, but I will be back out Saturday and Sunday with, I might add, a functioning snow removal device. Haha. My makeshift remover broke after three strokes.

Ah well. The dustpan works well enough on its own.