Baltimore is prepared for the upcoming snow season, city officials announced Monday.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said the city has a $6.3 million snow removal budget to go along with more than 300 essential personnel, 280 pieces of city and contractor equipment and 18,100 tons of salt.
"I hope I am not tempting fate by declaring that the city of Baltimore is fully prepared for the winter season ahead, since I have what, only a week and a half? I say that will be someone else's problem," Rawlings-Blake said.
Rawlings-Blake's last day on the job is Dec. 6. Her remarks about tempting fate relate back to her very first days on the job in February 2010, at the helm when snomaggeden dumped 45 inches of snow on Baltimore.
Rawlings-Blake said the city is stressing the importance of being prepared for unpredictable weather. Residents are urged to plan ahead and assemble emergency supply kits for their homes and vehicles before the winter season begins. Officials said kits should include water, batteries, a flashlight and anything else that will customize the kit to your needs.
Motorists are encouraged not to drive during a winter weather event unless absolutely necessary for the safety of everyone.
City officials said crews will be using a newly constructed brine facility, located at 560 W. North Ave., during winter weather events. The new facility will hold up to 39,000 gallons of brine.
Crews will use the brine to pretreat city gateways before a storm to help prevent snow from sticking to roads and help crews with snow removal efforts.
A new 7,500-ton salt dome has been constructed at the North Avenue location. It's the first salt dome built in the city in 20 years. The new salt dome increases the city’s storage capacity and provides crews with easy access to the Jones Falls Expressway as well as main east-west arterial streets.
The city Department of Transportation announced that for the second year in a row, it is coordinating its Youth Snow Program, an initiative that will link student workers with senior citizens and disabled residents who need assistance in clearing snow from public rights of way and sidewalks.
As part of the program, student workers will shovel snow from the public rights of way of older residents who live in their communities. Students will be deployed to work on days when city schools are closed and they will receive a stipend for their work.
City officials also reminded residents to turn off outside faucets and protect pipes.
"When the temperature remains below 25 degrees for a prolonged period, we recommend that you keep a thin stream running from the faucet in the lowest level of your home," Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Rudy Chow said.
DPW officials said its crews will never go to a house unless residents call them, so if someone arrives and says they're there to inspect pipes, or they demand money, call police.
For more information about the city’s snow removal efforts, tap here.
(wbaltv.com)
