BOSTON
- Friday, November 20, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today joined City
officials at the Public Works yard on Frontage Road to discuss winter
preparations currently underway in the City of Boston, and resources available
to residents, including older adults and individuals experiencing
homelessness.
"This
year, it's more important than ever for Bostonians to look out for one
another, especially as we continue to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic,"
said Mayor Walsh. "I'm calling on each and every resident to be
prepared, to care for our vulnerable residents, and to check on our
neighbors as we approach the winter season."
The
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is in constant contact with the
National Weather Service to receive detailed forecasts for the City of
Boston and ensure City departments have plans in place to handle the
forecast. Residents can sign up to receive AlertBoston notifications
by phone, text, or email in the event a snow emergency/parking ban is
declared.
The
Public Works Department (PWD) currently has 45,000 tons of salt on-hand to
treat City streets. Along with 150 pieces of in-house snow clearing
equipment, the PWD has the capability to place over 600 additional pieces
on the roads during larger storms. As part of their neighborhood plowing
operations during winter storms and to ensure the safety of riders
following events, PWD allocates pieces of equipment to clear snow from
Boston's dedicated bike lanes.
Rules on clearing snow:
- Property owners must fully
clear snow, sleet and ice from sidewalks and curb ramps abutting the
property within three hours after the snowfall ends or three hours
after sunrise if the snow ends overnight. Curb and pedestrian ramps to
the street should be cleared fully and continually over the duration
of the storm to ensure accessibility for individuals with
disabilities. If a storm will last over an extended period of time,
property owners are asked to continually check ramps abutting their
property for compliance.
- Removal of snow, ice from a
private property to the street or sidewalk is prohibited.
- Failure to comply with the
rules can result in fines issued by PWD's Code Enforcement Division.
Fines associated with improper removal of snow can be found here.
Parking during a declared snow emergency:
- If a snow emergency is declared,
cars will be ticketed and towed if parked on a posted snow emergency
artery. Space savers must be removed within 48 hours after a snow
emergency has been lifted. Please note: space savers are NOT
allowed in the South End.
- During declared snow
emergencies, discounted parking is available at some parking lots and
garages for Boston residents. A list of discounted parking garages can
be found here.
Trash and recycling:
- During severe snowstorms,
recycling and trash collection may be canceled, but this is extremely
rare. Most often, severe snowstorms can cause delays in service, so we
ask for your cooperation and patience. To view your neighborhood
recycling and trash schedule, locate a textile dropbox in your
neighborhood, and to find out what items you CAN and CAN'T recycle,
download our free Trash
Day App.
- Crews have a difficult time
reaching trash barrels and recycling carts placed behind snowbanks.
Please clear an area at the curb for collection or place containers
next to or in front of snowbanks.
Caring for vulnerable populations:
- If you see homeless and
vulnerable individuals out in the cold who appear immobile,
disoriented or underdressed for the cold, please call 911.
- The Boston Public Health
Commission (BPHC) coordinates a city-wide network of emergency
shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to
assist those in need of shelter.
- Boston's emergency shelters are
open 24 hours and will accept any person in need. Men can access
shelter at the 112 Southampton Street Shelter, and women should go to
the Woods-Mullen Shelter at 794 Massachusetts Ave. BPHC and the City
work closely with shelter providers in the city to ensure that no
client is without shelter, food, resources, and a warm respite from
the cold.
- The City is planning to bring
on roughly 200 beds for the winter spread throughout sites in
Brighton, Mission Hill and downtown. Additionally, the City is working
with the State to add additional capacity in locations surrounding and
outside of Boston.
- During extreme cold weather,
street outreach teams operate with extended hours and provide mobile
outreach vans on the streets in the evening and throughout the day.
Safety tips:
- Keep catch basins and fire
hydrants clear. For a map of catch basins and fire hydrants, visit here.
- Shoveling snow requires
significant exertion; please be cautious and pay attention to
symptoms. Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath,
lightheaded, nauseous/vomiting. Call 911 if those symptoms do not
resolve quickly.
- Snow piles can make navigating
intersections dangerous for walkers and drivers. Please take extra
care when turning corners with snow piles that might limit visibility.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning is a
concern during winter weather, especially with the use of generators.
Residents should use their home heating systems wisely and safely, and
have a working carbon monoxide detector on each floor of the home.
Call 911 immediately if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Sitting in a car while idling
can be deadly if the tailpipe is blocked. Do not let children sit in
an idling car while shoveling. Clear any household exhaust pipes of
snow like gas exhaust from the heating system or dryer.
- Have a contractor check the
roof to see if snow needs to be removed. If roof snow can be removed
from the ground with the use of a snow-rake, do so with caution. Avoid
working from ladders and be mindful of slippery surfaces.
Dress for the weather:
- Due to the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, residents are required to wear face masks or cloth face
coverings in all public places, whether indoors or outdoors, even
where they are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others.
- Wear several layers of
loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of
heavy clothing.
- Outer garments should be
tightly woven and water repellent.
- Wear mittens over gloves;
layering works for your hands as well.
- Always wear a hat and cover
your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
- Dress children warmly and set
reasonable time limits on outdoor play.
- Restrict infants' outdoor
exposure when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watch for signs of frostbite:
- Signs of frostbite include loss
of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as
fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are
detected, get medical help immediately.
Watch for signs of hypothermia:
- These include uncontrollable
shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech,
drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If you or someone you know shows
any of these symptoms, get in touch with a healthcare provider
immediately. If symptoms are severe, call 911.
Heating guidelines for property owners and tenants:
- In accordance with the
Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, the heating season officially
begins on September 15 and runs through June 15. Property owners must
heat habitable spaces at a minimum temperature of 68° between 7 a.m.
and 11:00 p.m. and 64° between 11:01 p.m. and 6:59 a.m.
- In case of emergency, property
owners are encouraged to keep a list of licensed contractors
(electrician, plumber and general contractor) on file. Tenants
experiencing problems with their heating system should check the
thermostat, ensure the dial is turned on, and report insufficient or
no heat problems to the property owner or manager immediately.
- If your landlord or property
manager is unresponsive, contact the Inspectional Services Department
(ISD) at (617) 635-5300 to file a complaint, or call 311.
Heating safety:
- Never try to heat your home
using a charcoal or gas grill, the kitchen stove, or other product not
specifically designed as a heater. These can cause a fire or produce
dangerous levels of carbon monoxide very quickly.
- Have your heating system
cleaned and checked annually.
- Install and maintain smoke
alarms and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home.
Carbon monoxide is an invisible gas produced whenever any fuel is
burned. Common sources include oil or gas furnaces, water heaters,
fireplaces, stoves, and some space heaters. It has no smell, taste, or
color. It is a poison and is deadly.
Tips to keep water flowing and pipes unfrozen during extreme
cold:
- The Boston Water and Sewer
Commission recommends homeowners locate a home's main water shut off
valve, and learn how to use it. Should a frozen pipe burst, shutting
the main valve quickly will minimize flooding and property damage.
- Homeowners should insulate
pipes in unheated areas like basements, garages and crawl spaces. Use
inexpensive hardware store materials to prevent pipes from freezing
and to keep warm water flowing.
- Circulate warm air around pipes
by keeping cabinet doors open. Circulate a trickle of tap water
through pipes during extreme cold to help prevent them freezing up.
- Locate your water meter,
protect it from drafts, and make sure basement doors and windows are
shut tight.
- If pipes do freeze, slow thaw
with a hair dryer. If water is lost in all taps, call BWSC 24-hour
Emergency Assistance Line at 617-989-7000.
Emergency home repair resources:
- Income-eligible homeowners and
Boston's residents over age 60 can receive assistance with winter
emergencies and repairs, such as fixing storm damage, leaking roofs,
furnaces and leaking/frozen pipes. For assistance, residents should
call the Mayor's hotline at 311 or the Boston Home Center at
617-635-HOME (4663).
- A grant up to $5,000 is
available for income eligible homeowners over age 60 to ease
unexpected financial burdens caused by an emergency situation with
their home.
- In addition, the Mayor's
Seniors Save program helps income eligible Bostonians over the age of 60
replace old, inefficient heating systems with a new brand new heating
system even before a catastrophic failure occurs during the cold
winter months. Older adults can also call 311 or the Boston Home
Center at 617-635-HOME (4663) to be connected with a City staffer to
provide additional details.
Tips to increase home energy efficiency:
- Disconnect the water hose from
the home.
- Wrap or cover exposed spigots.
- Ensure kitchen and bathroom
dampers close properly.
- Close all storm windows and
doors.
- Properly insulate all pipes
that are exposed.
- Install insulated or heavy
drapes to keep cold drafts from coming in.
- Don't forget to close the
damper to the wood burning fireplace after each use. Consider a
chimney balloon if you don't have a damper.
- For more energy efficiency tips
for your home, call Renew Boston at 617-635-SAVE (7283).
For more information, please visit the Winter in Boston guide and
follow @CityofBoston on Twitter.
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