This is one of the more terrifying images to emerge from the snowstorm: the dread ice dam. I am not entirely sure what an ice dam does, but it sounds fraking cold. Residents of the District whose homes feature dormers could be prey to the ice dam. Before you panic, you may want to determine whether your home has a dormer. (Which is not a student subleasing a room.) If your home in fact has a dormer, it is important to insulate your dormer and install gutter heating cables. Barring that, it is key to begin panicking.