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BOSTON - Wednesday, March 21, 2018
- Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced preparations for tonight's
storm, which is expected to bring a total of 4-9 inches of snow, with the
bulk of snow occurring overnight and ending tomorrow afternoon.
Over the course of this evening and tomorrow
morning, Boston Public Works Department (PWD) crews will have up to 800
pieces of equipment ready to pre-treat and clear roadways. PWD currently has
over 28,000 tons of salt on hand to treat the streets of Boston.
"Although we're facing some uncertainty
in the forecast, Boston is taking the precautionary measure to cancel school
tomorrow to ensure the safety of our students," said Mayor Walsh.
"While the City is prepared to keep our streets, residents, and students
safe, I ask residents to once again help us by checking on their neighbors,
clearing the sidewalks and pedestrian ramps around their property, and
staying off the roads when possible."
To ensure the safety of students, their
families, and staff, Boston Public Schools will be closed tomorrow.
Additional Preparations:
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Several
city departments, including BPD, EMS and 311 continue to have extra support
available to assist residents.
·
Boston
Centers for Youth and Families will be open from 7:30am-6pm for youth ages 7
and older while parents work. All youth are welcome.
Rules on Clearing Snow:
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Property
owners must fully clear snow, sleet and ice from sidewalks and pedestrian
ramps abutting the property within three hours after the snowfall
ends or three hours after sunrise if the snow ends overnight. Failure to
comply can result in a fine issued by PWD's Code Enforcement Division. As the
storm will last over an extended period of time, property owners may find it
easiest to shovel their sidewalk and ramps during the storm as well as
after.
·
Do
not throw snow onto the street. Removal of snow, ice from a private
property to the street or sidewalk is prohibited and can result in a fine
issued by PWD's Code Enforcement Division.
·
Fines
for failure to shovel sidewalks and improper removal of snow can be
found here.
Safety Tips:
·
Remember
to keep catch basins and fire hydrants clear. For a map of catch basins
and fire hydrants, visit http://www.bwsc.org.
·
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 when you
stop exertion.
·
Snow
piles can make navigating intersections dangerous for walkers and drivers,
please take extra care when turning corners with snowpiles that might limit
visibility.
·
Pedestrians
should use caution as visibility will be diminished due to blowing and
drifting of the snow caused by high winds.
·
Carbon
Monoxide poisoning is a concern during winter weather, especially with the
use of generators. Residents should be sure to use their home heating systems
wisely and safety, and have a working carbon monoxide detector on each floor
of your 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. For example, gas exhaust from heating system or dryer.
·
Please
check on neighbors, especially the elderly and those with disabilities.
·
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.
Helping the Homeless:
·
If
you see homeless individuals out in the cold who appear immobile, disoriented
or underdressed for the cold, please call 911.
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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.
·
Emergency
shelters are open 24 hours and will accept any person in need. Men can access
shelters through 112 Southampton Street, and women should go to the
Woods-Mullen Shelter at 794 Massachusetts Ave. BPHC and the City are working
closely with shelter providers to ensure that no client is without shelter,
food, resources, and a warm respite from the cold.
·
Emergency
shelters are open 24 hours and will accept any person in need.
·
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. Find more information here.
Residents are encouraged to sign up for
emergency notifications through AlertBoston and
utilize the 311 call center for
non-emergency related issues. Please follow @CityofBoston and
visit boston.gov/snow for
the latest updates.
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