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BOSTON
- Sunday, January 31, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today declared a snow
emergency ahead of the forecasted winter storm that is scheduled to begin
tomorrow morning and end Tuesday afternoon. Total snow accumulations are
expected to range between 8 to 12 inches, and winds as high as 45 mph are
expected. Residents are advised that a parking ban will take effect starting
at noon tomorrow, when vehicles parked on major
roads and main arteries will start to be towed. The City is urging
residents to abide by snow regulations and encouraging all commuters to use
caution when traveling during the Monday evening and Tuesday morning
commutes. Dry weather, paired with colder temperatures and wind chill, are
anticipated on Wednesday and Thursday following the storm.
"I
am urging everyone to be ready and prepared for tomorrow's forecasted
snowstorm," said Mayor Walsh. "All of our residents and workers
should take precautions on our roads and sidewalks, particularly during the
Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes. Our Public Works Department will
be working around the clock to pre-treat and clean our roads, and I thank
them for their hard work. We are asking residents and businesses to do their part
by staying safe, shoveling their sidewalks and walkways, clearing catch
basins and the area around fire hydrants, and by offering help to your older
neighbors and residents with disabilities. The City of Boston will continue
to share updates throughout the storm."
- A snow emergency has been
declared, starting Monday, February 1, 2021 at noon. A parking ban will
also take effect at noon tomorrow. All vehicles parked on a posted snow
emergency artery will be towed beginning at noon on Monday. Residents
can find a list of free and discounted garages here;
and parking at participating garages will begin at 10 a.m. on
Monday.
- Trash and recycling pick-up will
continue on a regular schedule on Monday, February 1st and Tuesday,
February 2nd. Residents are encouraged to download the Trash
Day App for more information on their trash and recycling pick-up
schedule.
- Nighttime street sweeping on main
roads, arterials, and commercial roads is canceled until further notice.
Updates will be provided on boston.gov when nighttime street sweeping is
scheduled to resume.
- All Boston Public Schools (BPS)
students, including students who were scheduled to report for in-person
learning, will attend classes online on both Monday and Tuesday for a
partial day that will end 2.5 hours earlier than the regularly scheduled
dismissal time. There will be no in-person learning on Monday and
Tuesday, and all BPS buildings will be closed on those days.
- In-person learning will resume on
Thursday, February 4, 2021.
- As indicated in signage posted in
BPS school parking lots, parking is not allowed in these lots during
snowstorms. Vehicles may be towed if they are parked in BPS parking lots
during the snow emergency.
- BPS meal distribution sites will
be open on Monday, February 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All Boston
Centers for Youth and Families (BYCF) meal sites will be closed on
Monday. Residents are encouraged to check with their non-BPS meal sites
for hours.
- The City-sponsored mobile COVID-19
testing site at the Anna M. Cole Community Center in Jamaica Plain will
be closed on Monday. For other updates on testing site availability and
closures, please check hours of operation here.
- The City-sponsored COVID-19
vaccination clinic at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at
Roxbury Community College is opening as scheduled on Monday, February
1st and Tuesday, February 2nd for people with appointments.
Boston
City Hall will be open to the public on Monday, February 1st only for
residents who need to pay their property taxes or file an abatement
application by the February 1st deadline. Boston City Hall and all City
departments will be open to the public on Tuesday, February 2nd. We encourage
residents to utilize our online services when possible. Boston Public Library
locations will be closed on Monday, including in-person BPL To Go services. All BCYF
community centers will be closed, remote programming will continue and
registered lap swim sessions will be cancelled from 12 p.m. on.
The
Public Works Department (PWD) will have equipment to pre-treat Boston's roads
prior to the snowfall starting, and the City has the ability to put over 700
pieces of equipment on city streets. The PWD currently has 42,000 tons of
salt on hand.
The
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is in constant contact with the National
Weather Service to receive detailed forecast updates for the City of Boston
and to ensure City departments have plans in place to handle the weather.
Residents can sign up to receive AlertBoston
notifications by phone, text, or email. Residents can call 311 for
non-emergency issues.
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 the storm
lasts for an extended period of time, property owners are asked to
continually check and clear ramps abutting their property.
- Removal of snow and ice from a
private property to the street or sidewalk is prohibited.
- Failure to comply with these
rules can result in fines issued by PWD's Code Enforcement Division.
Fines associated with improper removal of snow can be found here.
Caring for vulnerable populations:
- If you see homeless or vulnerable
individuals out in the cold who appear immobile, disoriented or
underdressed for the weather, 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 a day 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 to ensure that no client is without shelter, food, resources,
and a warm respite from the cold.
- The City has over 200 beds for
the winter spread throughout sites in Brighton, Mission Hill and
downtown. Additionally, the City worked with the Commonwealth to add
additional shelter capacity in locations surrounding and outside of
Boston.
- The BPHC
Engagement Center is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition to
providing an indoor heated space, it offers a range of basic amenities
and comfort items, such as clean bathroom facilities, water, coffee, and
light snacks.
- 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.
You can assist in keeping hydrants clear of snow so the Boston Fire
Department can access them quickly in case of emergency.
- Shoveling snow requires
significant exertion; please be cautious and pay attention to signs of
overexertion. Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath,
lightheaded, nausea, or vomiting. Call 911 if those symptoms do not
resolve quickly.
- Snow piles can make navigating
intersections dangerous for pedestrians 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 (e.g. gas
exhaust for heating systems or dryers) and vehicle exhaust pipes of
snow.
- 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 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, and it
is poisonous and potentially deadly.
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).
- In addition, the Mayor's Seniors
Save program helps income eligible Bostonians over the age of 60 replace
old, inefficient heating systems with a brand new heating system 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.
For more information, please visit the Winter in Boston guide and
follow @CityofBoston on Twitter.
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