Voting Question: Are Texas Apt complexes responsible for clearing ice?

26/02/11

So we don’t live in a state that normally deals with snow, Texas. Ice, on the other hand, when we deal with it, it seems to shut us down because we don’t have it very often. My lease doesn’t have provisions for bad weather because we don’t experience enough to have a contract that address it. So here we are in the middle of a four-day stretch of snow - mostly ice. People are literally stranded in their homes. I work!!! Hear me again, please. I work!!!! I don’t have the luxury of calling into some office saying, “I can’t be there.” I imagine most can’t. Help! Cars are stranded in my apartment complex every which way.
My question is: Does the apartment complex have a responsibility by law to make at least the major ways out of the complex suitable? The complex office is closed of course because they couldn’t make it to work. I don’t have that luxury. When maintenace was called, I was told — well we can’t take care of all the parking lot. So….nothing, not one spec of relief was layed in the parking lot, let alone the stairs. I live on the third floor and have to take my pet out twice a day. Is it a courtesy or a right to expect the complex to make the stairs and parking lot safe? Thank you for any help.
Having come from living in Nebraska, I do know how to drive on ice and snow. Driving on roads outside of the complex, I can do. Our vehicles aren’t equipped nor are the businesses and apparently apt complexes equipped to handle ice. If I were told by the complex when I called that relief was coming at some point, no problem. But they were rude and simply stated no one is coming. It isn’t a matter of just being patient. It doesn’t help when other complexes are providing sand for their residents. I just wondered if we had rights regarding this issue. Thanks again.