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2022 #Snowcrew plan powered by Nextdoor

Snowcrew Annapolis!

Neighbors,

Back in 2009, after hearing that then-Mayor Cory Booker was shoveling out neighbors in need, I got an idea. What if I could replicate his effort and coordinate multiple neighbors getting shoveled out simultaneously using technology — thus, the first version on #Snowcrew was born using Google maps.

In 2015, while driving from DC to Boston and back shoveling out neighbors in need during my (not so famous) #Snowcresade, I realized that while my efforts were noble, I only addressed the symptom of the more significant problem — neighbor disconnection. Neighbors surrounded every person I shoveled out, but they did not know their neighbors and told me asking for help made them feel too uncomfortable.

Today, powered by Nextdoor, neighbors, since they are connected (and kindness is our jam at Nextdoor), can ask for and offer help shoveling or for whatever they need at the moment.

Below is the 2022 plan for #Snowcrew now powered by Nextdoor.com (where I work). Over the years, while there have been super neighbors (like James) who will drive across a city or county to shovel our neighbor in need, the vast majority of people who get and offer help shoveling live near each other. As 1 in 3 households in the US uses Nextdoor, the chances of getting help or someone taking you up on your offer to shovel are dramatically increased.

Below is how to participate in #Snowcrew in 2022!

If you have not already joined your neighborhood’s Nextdoor network, please install the app or sign up here.

❄️ To ask for and offer help shoveling, post a message on your neighborhood’s Nextdoor news feed by clicking this link – https://bit.ly/NextdoorSnowcrew and be sure to select “Your neighborhood” or “Nearby neighborhoods” and NOT “Anyone” for where your post appears. ❄️

By following the steps above, you will notify the neighbors closest to you who are the ones most likely to help or take you up on your offer. Please do not offer or ask for help shoveling by replying to this post, as I’ve shared this message state-wide, and neighbors will likely be too far away.

Please also remember that this is a neighbor-powered volunteer effort, and participation is voluntary. There is not a list of #Snowcrew volunteers – neighbors need to offer and ask for help shoveling each time it snows.

Please note that offers to help shovel on the Help Map and in the newsfeed need to be free of charge per Nextdoor’s community guidelines. Service providers may, however, respond to requests for snow removal services. To learn about the designated spaces for neighbors and organizations to sell products and services such as snow removal, click here.

As you go about shoveling please do so safely — about 11,500 people visit the emergency room every year due to snow shoveling injuries.

⚠️ Below are tips to help you shovel safely ⚠️

Get prepared:
✅  Dress warmly and in layers
✅  Stay hydrated, drink lots of water
✅  Snack on complex carbs

Shovel safely:
✅  Take breaks every 5 minutes
✅  Shovel small scoops of snow an inch or two at a time
✅  Lift with your legs – not your back
✅  Shovel every few hours to keep the snow from piling up

When shoveling sidewalks and curb cuts, please shovel the width of at least 36 inches (or the width mandated by your municipality)  to allow people who use wheelchairs and mobility aids to pass safely. Don’t forget to shovel out fire hydrants as extra seconds save lives. 

Please also consider shoveling out:

• Occupied and empty accessible parking spots
• Fire hydrants
• Curb cut
• Storm drains
• Bus stops
• Mailboxes

Stay warm and shovel safely!

Joseph

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What my family and I have done to prepare for the COVID-19 Coronavirus

My daughter playing the “Count to 20 slowly game” while washing her hands

Neighbors,

I am not a public health expert, nor do I work in that field. I have, however, gone to extensive lengths to educate myself about preparedness in general. Below are a collection of tips I’ve sourced from the CDC and friends who work in the emergency management and medical fields. These tips guided what my family and I have done to prepare for COVID-19 and my hope they will help you too!

To learn more and stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 updates visit CDC.gov/covid19 or reach out to your doctor or local health department.

Here are the CDC’s prevention tips:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The purpose of a facemask is to prevent droplets from sneezing and coughing from becoming airborne

Below are checklists of what my family did to prepare:

In case person-to-person spread happens in an area where you live and you need to shelter in place, ensure that:

  • You can make three meals a day per person in their household for 14 days
  • You have enough toilet paper and pet food (if you have pets) to last 14 days
  • You have enough medicine on-hand to carry you and your family for 30 days

If you or someone in your household were to get sick, do you have:

  • A working thermometer
  • Fever-reducing over the counter medications
  • Drinks with electrolytes like Gatorade or Pedialyte, if you have kids, to help address dehydration should you become sick
  • Broth, crackers, apple sauce, and juice concentrates – things that are easy to eat if you get sick
  • A room in your home where a sick family member can remain isolated to prevent spreading illness (with its own bathroom is best)
  • Cleaning supplies like wipes and unscented household bleach to sanitize

This is a long list of items, you don’t need to do everything right away. Chip away at this list over time and prioritize based on you or your family’s needs. 

Other important questions to consider for general preparation:

  • Do you have 8 glasses of water per person per day stored in your households to last 14 days?
  • Are you able to power your devices with battery power, or the ability to generate electricity, to stay safe and healthy during a power outage lasting more than 3 days?
  • Do you have physical copies of important documents like passports and the deed to your home, in your go-bags and digital copies stored securely using 2 Factor Authentication in the cloud?
  • Do you have enough money saved or cash-on-hand that you could easily access for emergency costs?
  • Do you have the proper insurance coverage amounts including protection from flooding and earthquakes on your homeowner or rental insurance policies?

Should you get sick with Coronavirus, here is what you should do.

Here is the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers.

If you found this information helpful, feel free to share it with others.

Lastly, please keep en eye out for your neighbors!

Joseph