Shovel Out After a Snowstorm

Boston, Massachusetts received over 15 inches of snow on New Year’s Day 2014 and the day after. At that time the Mayor, Tom Menino reminded everyone not to shovel snow off cars onto the street. The big question was, if people cannot shovel snow onto the street, where are they supposed to put it? Where are they supposed to put over 15 inches of snow, if not on the street?

Certainly, people in North Dakota and Montana have worked their snow system out perfectly. But Bostonians are not used to getting 15 inches of snow over a 48-hour period, let alone know where to put it. If you own your house, you can put the snow in your front yard. But if you are renting an apartment in a building and you are shoveling out your car, just where are you supposed to put all that snow?

Folks are told through news reports that if they are caught throwing snow in the street, they will be fined a maximum of $200. Three hours after every snowstorm, homeowners are expected to remove snow and ice from the entire width of their sidewalk, a minimum of 42 inches. This is to allow the ability of baby carriages and wheelchairs to safely navigate the sidewalks. There is a maximum fine of $150 each day sidewalk shoveling with ice melt is not done.

Not being able to use the street to dispose of snow is a huge challenge. Large amounts of snow and ice causes us to compete with others on your street for places to put them. After shoveling 5 to 10 inches of snow by hand, you are exhausted.

And after shoveling out your car, large city-run trunks with commercial grade plows come by and plow the snow from the street back on your car! You have to go back and shovel out your car again.

After a very large snowstorm, often, trunks have to pick the snow up from the streets and haul it away.

If the local news predicts more than 5 inches of snow will fall in your area, you must decide and prepare yourself how you will handle that much snow. Your city ordinance dictates when you must shovel after a snowstorm.

Shoveling early and often gives you an advantage. You get to put your snow away first, before other people wake up.

The most important task you have is to shovel out your sidewalk, driveway, your car, and your parking lot before the temperature goes down. Five inches or more of snow should be shoveled out during the storm. Once the storm finishes, you will have less snow to get off your walkways.

If you wait, and the temperature goes down, it won't be snow anymore. It will be ice; heavy ice you have to remove.

The snowstorm has ended, having dropped over 6 inches of fluff on the ground You have been out with your snow shovel for 45 minutes. This is your second trip.

Your next-door neighbor hasn't shoveled at all yet. When he does, it is with his new snow blower. He shoveled his sidewalk, his driveway, and his car. He was finished in an hour.

He goes back inside his home. He didn't even volunteer to do your sidewalk.

There are no statistics on what is better to use, a snow shovel or a snowblower.

• Snow blowers are easier and faster. Snow shovels require the use of manual labor.
• Snowblowers cost hundreds of dollars. Snow shovels cost under $65.
• Snowblowers can point and throw the snow to the side. With a snow shovel, one has to pick up the snow and throw it to the side using physical strength.
• Snowblowers require regular maintenance on all its parts. Snow shovels are waterproof.
• Snowblowers require gas to operate. Snow shovels do not need supplies.
• Snowblowers are noisy. Snow shovels are not.
• As you age, you can hire a teenager to shovel your snow. Would you trust him or her to safely use your snowblower?

Rain, frozen pipes, flooded basements, heart attacks, sliding and crashing cars complete the madness that is part of a major snowstorm. Snow and ice create lawsuits, cabin fever, and fights inside and outside of homes. In addition, there is the need to push oneself through several winter snowstorms both physically and mentally.

Fortunately, all of this lasts about a week until everything calms down. We forget about the horrors we experienced. Unfortunately, without a snow removal plan for each major snowstorm, it will be repeated at the next snowstorm.

Sort of like the snowstorm equivalent of the Circle of Life, with frigid cold added by Mother Nature.