Winter Storm Update from County Executive Ike Leggett -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Montgomery County continues its work to deal with last weekend’s record 30-inch snowfall, tens of thousands of power outages, and hundreds of downed trees – and to address the storm now underway, which could deposit another 10-20 inches on us. 


Updates: 


• 900 pieces of equipment on the streets – up from 500 pieces used in previous storms.

• Our County road crews and contractors have completed the initial plowing of the 4,128 lane miles of neighborhood residential streets. We are taking a look at “missed street” reports and double-checking that all streets have received service. Any missed streets will receive a plow as soon as possible.

• Approximately 5,900 homes are still without power. We are working closely with PEPCO to make sure that power is restored to these residents as quickly as possible, and we are committed to continuing this support as the new storm moves in and additional outages are possible.

• For residents currently affected by power outages, a shelter remains open at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. The County opened two additional shelters today – one in Silver Spring at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, and another in Germantown at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive -- to accommodate any residents who lose power during the new storm.

• Once the new snow starts to accumulate, the County’s Snow Operations Center will gear up to send plows back to primary streets as soon as the new snow starts. Plows will begin clearing primary and arterial roads, then secondary roads, and then the 4,128 miles of neighborhood roads. 


Here is some important information. Consult the County website for updates. 


• Useful phone numbers:

Emergencies and to report “hot” or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 911 (do not use for plowing questions); 

Non-emergency, Police 301-279-8000; 

Snow removal problems or downed trees 240-777-6000; emailhighway@montgomerycountymd.gov;

Power outages, call your power provider: PEPCO at 1-877-737-2662, Allegheny Power at 1-800-255-3443 or Baltimore Gas and Electric at 1-877-778-2222;

Four-wheel drive volunteers 240-777-2600; email volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov

Shelter information/transportation 240-777-6000;

Damaged mailboxes (standard boxes) report 240-777-6000; damaged non-standard mailbox, call 240-777-8920; 

Residents concerned about the safety and well-being of children, elderly individuals or adults with disabilities, call the County’s Crisis Center 240-777-4000.

• Web sites:

County plowing policies and plans (pdf). 
Streets missed by County plows, the County's snow operations web site.
General snow information, www.montgomerycountymd.gov .

• Shelters:

Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville, remains open. Transport to the center is being handled by volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles and by Maryland National Guard members. 
Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Rd., Silver Spring and Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Dr., Germantown. Call 240-777- 6000. 


• Sign up for Alert Montgomery to have emergency alerts, notifications and updates sent to your cell phone, e-mail, PDA, Twitter or Facebook. 


• Watch Montgomery County government’s cable television channel—County Cable Montgomery (CCM), Channel 6 on the Comcast and RCN cable systems and Channel 30 on Verizon -- featuring live coverage of road conditions at all major traffic intersections. 


• Enforcement of parking regulations in all public parking garages and lots in the Silver Spring, Wheaton and Bethesda parking lot districts is suspended through Thursday. Check the County website for updates beyond Thursday. 


• Trash, recycling, yard trim collections suspended for remainder of the week. Collections will resume Monday, February 15. 


• Montgomery County Public Library customers are asked not to return library materials unless libraries are open and not to leave materials outside the library buildings. Materials due Feb. 5 through Feb.10 will have their due dates extended one week. No fines will be charged for the period from Friday, Feb. 5, through Wednesday, Feb. 10. 


Tips for residents: 


• Clear snow away from fire hydrants (if able) so that they are visible from the road and accessible to firefighters in the event of an emergency. 


• Exercise caution when shoveling snow. Shovel snow into the yard rather than the street, to facilitate plowing. Cold weather puts an extra strain on the body. Individuals with heart disease or high blood pressure should follow their doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Avoid overexertion. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of deaths during winter. 


• When going outdoors, dress warmly and stay dry. Adults and children should wear a hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth; sleeves that are snug at the wrists, mittens (they are warmer than gloves), a water-resistant coat and boots, and several layers of loose-fitting clothes. 


• Serious health problems such as hypothermia and frostbite can be caused by prolonged exposure to the cold. Watch for loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. In both cases, residents should get medical attention immediately if symptoms are present. 


• Property owners are responsible for clearing their public sidewalks, driveways and entrances within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. 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 without power should be aware that using gas or charcoal grills, propane heaters and stoves, kerosene space heaters or generators indoors can be fatal. They are a source of carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Avoid using candles or outdoor grills indoors, to prevent the risk of a fire. 


• If traveling is hazardous, residents should be prepared to shelter in place. Individuals planning to go to a shelter should bring all medications and personal supplies with them. Pets are not permitted at shelters except for service animals. 


• Help elderly or ill neighbors with their snow shoveling. Snow shoveling services for a fee are listed through a web search ("snow removal services, Montgomery County, Maryland") or through the yellow pages ("landscaping and maintenance services"). 


Tips for motorists: 


• Stay at home if at all possible, to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles to respond to calls and plows, trucks and front-end loaders to clear snow. 


• Do not attempt to drive if you are not comfortable driving on snowy roads. When preparing to drive, be sure to thoroughly clear the snow from the entire car – including roofs, windshields trunks and hoods – to ensure visibility and prevent snow from blowing onto surrounding cars. When driving, do not speed and be sure to leave plenty of space between your car and the one in front of you. Avoid pulling out in front of other vehicles and do not slow down before going up a hill. 


• Even as roads become more passable, drivers should watch their speed as they may encounter unexpected conditions such as snow plows, pedestrians or icy patches. 


• After melting begins, if temperatures drop below freezing at night, black ice can occur during the night and caution is advised. 


• Proceed with extreme caution when approaching an intersection where the line of sight may be blocked by mounds of snow. 


• Stay alert for pedestrians walking in the roadways, because many sidewalks are blocked with snow. Pedestrians’ vision and hearing may be impeded by hats and hoods. At night, be extra cautions, because it is extremely difficult to see pedestrians wearing dark clothing.