It’s been a while since D.C. has seen any significant amount of snow, so we can be forgiven for being a little rusty on basic snowstorm protocol and etiquette. Still, it’s important that we all observe the basic rules that hold our society together in these trying times; without them, we run the risk of devolving into snow-related anarchy. As a public service, we’ve compiled a list of the most important things for you to remember on this Snow Day. If we’ve forgotten anything, add it to the comments!

DO: Have a snowball fight!
DON’T: Bring a gun to a snowball fight!

DO: Go sledding! Plastic bags and cardboard boxes make pretty good sleds in a pinch.
DON’T: Bring a gun with you while you go sledding. Not that this has happened, but we feel it’s probably worth disclaiming anyhow.

DO: Take pictures of snow and put them into our Flickr pool!

DO: Shovel. Once the snow is done, D.C. law allows you 24 hours to clear your walk. Do so.
DON’T: Shovel all of the snow in front of your house onto the walk in front of your neighbor’s house. They’ll justifiably hate you for it.

DO: If you borrow a neighbor’s shovel and it breaks while you’re using it, replace it plus beer or cookies—or both.

DO: Once the snow is done, clean the snow off of your car.
DON’T: Forget to clean off all the snow. There nothing awesome about seeing a sheet of ice fly off of the roof of your car and towards an innocent pedestrian when you slam on the brakes.

DON’T: Assume your Honda Civic can handle snowy conditions. It can’t.

BY NO MEANS EVER DO THIS: Reserve an on-street parking spot using a garbage can, traffic cone or chair. This isn’t Chicago or Boston, and we’re not getting nailed by four feet of snow. And even if we were, DIY parking spot reservations are verboten in D.C.

DO: Find out if your favorite D.C. eatery is serving brunch. Enjoy.
DON’T: Tip poorly because you disagree with a political message that your server might have on their t-shirt.

DO AT YOUR OWN RISK: Make a snow dessert.
OR: Wait until the snow really starts coming down, and then go out and get an ice cream cone. Whatever happened to that guy, anyhow?

DO: Buy basic supplies at the supermarket.
DON’T: Ravage supermarket aisles like you’re preparing for nuclear holocaust. If you find yourself with a 36-pack of toilet paper and four two-gallon containers of milk, you’re doing it wrong. (Unless you have a family of 12.) If you find yourself standing atop the bloody carcass of a fellow resident you just slayed to get to that last can of tuna, you’re really doing it wrong.

DO: Feel free to call this snowstorm, simply, a snowstorm. Just because some people are using a silly nickname that, considering the fact that D.C. is currently getting pelted with snow, makes no sense, that doesn’t mean you have to join them.
DON’T: Give into the lexical thuggery of the Capital Weather Gang.

DO: Make sure your liquor cabinet is properly stocked.
DON’T: Drink like you’re definitely going to have another snow day tomorrow. Because c’mon.

DO: Watch NBC4 for all your weather news. Chances are that they’ve got Pat Collins buried up to his neck in West Virginia snow or Wendy Rieger doing all-day live shots from wherever the wind and snow are worst.

DO: Use D.C.’s snow plow-tracking tool.

PLEASE DO: If you see a person in need, call the D.C. Hypothermia Shelter Hotline at 800-535-7252.

DEFINITELY DO: If you’re planning some insane weather-related stunt (think horse mask-wearing guy during Hurricane Sandy), tip us off first!