BA/Storm.pr        96-5            Contact: Information Office, 301-217-6530
COUNTY ANNOUNCES STORM COST ESTIMATES;
STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED;   For Immediate Release: Jan. 10, 1996; 2 p.m.
     
     Montgomery County officials are estimating the costs associated with the
blizzard of 1996 could reach nearly $5 million.  Included are costs for
plowing roads in the County (including municipalities) and the two-day
government shutdown.  By comparison, the County spent a total of $3.5 million
for costs associated with storm clean-up operations during the winter of 1993-
94, when the County was hit hard by a series of ice and snow storms.
`    County Executive Douglas M. Duncan has proclaimed a state of emergency,
which makes the County eligible for federal disaster aid.
     Major roads in the County have been plowed and all primary residential
routes have been cleared.  Public Works officials reported that as of 2 p.m. 
today, approximately 80 percent of the neighborhood streets have been plowed.
     "It's our hope that we will have been able to make at least one sweep
through every residential street by this evening," said Duncan.  "This has
been a storm of monumental proportions and we appreciate the patience our
residents have shown.  Our crews have worked almost non-stop since the storm
began Saturday night and will continue until the operation is complete."
     The Department of Recreation reports that its 13 community centers and
three swim centers are open.  All public libraries in the County normally open

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COUNTY ANNOUNCES STORM COST ESTIMATES                               2-2-2-2

on Wednesdays are operating, with the exception of Little Falls, Fairland and
Poolesville.  In addition, the Health Department reports that all its health
centers are open, but persons should call ahead to confirm their appointments.
     County-provided refuse collections will resume on Thursday, January 11. 
Recycling collections will resume next week.
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