Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
John Thompson, 240-777-7623

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2002

County Ready for Winter Weather;
Reminds Residents of Sidewalk Clearing Requirements

With snowstorms predicted for this weekend, the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation, Division of Highway Services (DHS) is preparing to keep County roads safe. DHS has a work force of 200 snow fighters who work around the clock until all 2,500 miles of County-maintained streets are passable. Most of the time, it takes about 16 hours after the end of a three-inch snowfall to plow and/or treat every County road once.

DHS has 175 pieces of snow removal equipment and 35,500 tons of salt and sand available to help remove snow. Streets are plowed according to a priority protocol, with DHS staff initially focusing on keeping traffic moving on major County roads and primary neighborhood streets. Plowing generally begins when snow is three or more inches deep and it is too cold for snow to melt. Even after plowing, snow that has been hard-packed by traffic often remains on the street because County plows are unable to remove it completely. In this situation, a mixture of sand and salt is spread to provide adequate traction. Major roads are cleared down to bare pavement as soon as possible after the storm has ended. Next, crews concentrate on sanding and clearing snow from all neighborhood streets.

A law recently enacted by the Montgomery County Council requires all residential and commercial property owners to clear their public sidewalks within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. All residents are strongly encouraged to be good neighbors by clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes, as well as assisting those who may not be physically able to do so.

Residents who need assistance in clearing snow from their sidewalks this winter, or those who are interested in volunteering to help others, can call the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600. Where possible, neighborhood volunteers will be paired with households in need of assistance clearing their sidewalks.

In December, the County Council announced a partnership with CASA de Maryland, which has agreed to help residents clear sidewalks for approximately $25, depending on the amount of snow that needs to be shoveled. People who need assistance during a snowstorm are asked to call 301-431-4177 or 301-431-4185. Residents should be aware that they will be contracting for service directly with a private organization.

A new Montgomery County brochure, "When It Snows," provides residents with the latest on what to expect during a snowstorm and how to get the information they need. Available at public libraries, regional services centers, and recreation and community centers, as well as online at http://publicworks.dpwt.com, the brochure explains the County's plowing policy, offers tips on how to obtain up-to-date status information about snow clearing operations, and provides a list of useful telephone numbers and websites to help residents check the status of County and other services.

The County's snow action plan establishes a priority system for snow clearing activities during a storm. The order in which these activities are conducted during a snowstorm are outlined below:

1. Begin patrols at the start of the storm.

2. Begin full-scale salting of all major County and primary neighborhood streets and start spot salting of bridges and elevated roadways.

3. Plow all major County roads.

4. Plow all primary neighborhood streets and all other residential streets; and

5. Spot sand hills and intersections on residential streets, as necessary.

For more information about the status of snow removal operations during a snowstorm, call the Division of Highway Services at 240-777-7623.