Can you tell me what is the time limit for snow removal.
I live in a condo. Hackettstown. Last year snow was not removed for three days at a time and I was unable to get out of my house, the door would not open.
Calling the office I was told they would get to it soon and soon never came.
I am a disabled senior and being trapped in my home is a very scary situation. I am starting early before snow to find out what I should do this winter.
But they probably base those goals on an "average" winter. We are all at the mercy of "unexpected" conditions.
If I were you I would go to the condo association president or whatever your governing body is, now, before snow starts, and explain your fears about being trapped in your home, not able to escape a gas leak or fire, etc. An able-bodied person may be able to fight their way through a door or go out a window. You may not have the strength to do that. Therefore you'd like assurance they will place your unit (and those of other handicapped persons) on a priority list.
Certainly stay in, stay warm, listen to good music with a good book. But I don't blame you for wanting an exit in case of immediate emergency. If the condo association can't give you some satisfaction, call the disability helpline in your area and ask what your options are.
Perhaps you could stock up on canned goods and bottled water. Also, if the snow is that bad, and the roads and sidewalks are icy, maybe it's better to stay inside until conditions improve.
I walk with a cane, having had my spine crushed in a riding accident. No way do I go gallivanting around when it's slippery underfoot.
However, the fact that your door was frozen shut, and you were unable to leave your condo in the event of a fire or other emergency, is far more serious than the fact that you couldn't get to WaWa to buy a loaf of bread. That's something the condo association should be told about, so they can come up with a plan in case it happens again.
We recently had a power outage from a bad storm and so our elevator wasn't working. One lady who lived on the third floor came back from shopping and couldn't walk her groceries to her apt. Another resident went to her unit and brought all of her meds back down, and so the lady with the groceries went and stayed with her daughter until the power came back on.
I'm 64 and still in very good shape. I'd be happy to help another senior in our complex if they needed help. I bet you have some people where you live who would offer help. Maybe go to the condo assn and suggest they put together a list of folks who might need help in an emergency (power outage, excess snow, flood) situation. Good luck!
Is it likely that your house will catch fire during a snow emergency? Is it likely that a gas leak will occur? Probably not. Is it possible? Certainly, just as possible as on any other day of the year.
You can stock up on toilet paper all you want, and you can sensibly not try to shop during a weather emergency.
It is NOT paranoid to fear being locked in your home for days, especially when this has happened in the past. A plan for minimizing the time that condition exists is sensible.
Of course seniors don't need to get out and about in a snow emergency. But I really think most posters here are missing the point. Being locked in a building you can't get out of in an emergency is unsafe. Planning ahead to prevent that is sensible. Betsyross asked for help in dealing with this. Thanks to those who took this question seriously.
Thinking that Betsyross just wants to go gallivanting around or out to buy milk misses the point entirely.
Just reaching out for help
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