MAYOR WALSH ASKS RESIDENTS TO STAY OFF THE ROADS AND HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS

MAYOR WALSH ASKS RESIDENTS TO STAY OFF THE ROADS AND HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS

BOSTON – Monday, February 9 2015 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh gave an update on the current snowstorm in the City of Boston and the work of the Public Works Department to manage snow from today’s snowfall, and snow from previous storms. As of 2:00 pm, the City of Boston had received 20 inches, with 4 more inches slated to fall before the system moves out of the region. All total of approximately six feet of snow has fallen in the City of Boston since the blizzard two weeks ago. A snow emergency and parking ban remains in effect until further notice

“We’ve now had the snowiest month on record beating the 1978 record,” said Mayor Walsh. “We will get plows and snow removal equipment to every street, but we need your patience. I am asking Boston residents, businesses, and institutions, to assist in your communities, shovel your sidewalks and fire hydrants, help the elderly and disabled, and those in need. I’m asking everyone to stay off the roads tomorrow, and request that employers allow their employees to work from home so we can recover from this storm quickly.”

Schools

Boston Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, February 10, and all after-school activities on Tuesday are canceled. Digital educational resources and materials are always available online at the Boston Public Schools website: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/

Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) will have 14 facilities open from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday. All are welcome, and children age 7 and older can be dropped off upon completion of a short intake form. Visit the BCYF website for center locations: http://www.cityofboston.gov/BCYF/.

Public Works

The Public Works Department has over 600 pieces of equipment on roadways today, plowing and widening with the priority focused on main arterials.

The Public Works Department has also been conducting snow melting operations at the City’s snow farms located at 6 Tide St and Reservation Road in Hyde Park. In the past 24 hours, 6,000 truck loads of snow have been melted, which is creating space for the will allow for the additional snow that will be trucked in following today’s snow event.

You can track the PWD response to the snowstorm in your neighborhood using the newly launched Boston Snow Stats platform, available online here: http://snowstats.boston.gov/

Safety Tips

• Please help your neighbors and do your part to assist during this snow event by clearing sidewalks and shoveling out hydrants.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Remember to keep catch basins and fire hydrants clear.
• 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.
• If you see a person in need of shelter, of it there is an emergency, please call 911.
• Please check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
• If you are walking in the street, remove your headphones, so you can hear traffic.
• For those with questions or concerns, help is available through several channels. The Mayor’s Hot Line (617-635-4500) will be running with extra staff around the clock for the next two days and the City’s social media and mobile technology strategy will be in full effect throughout the storm. Residents can tweet @notifyboston with a question or concern, and use the Citizens Connect app to report issues.

Trash and Recycling

Regularly scheduled trash collection will take place on Tuesday. For additional trash updates visit the Public Works Department online: http://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/

Parking

A snow emergency and parking ban remain in effect until further notice. The Boston Transportation Department has issued 751 weather emergency related citations and towed 84 vehicles since Sunday, February 8.

Minimizing the number of vehicles parked on our streets allows snowplows to get to the curb and clear the snow. In addition, drivers are asked to park with safety in mind and refrain from parking in any manner that will jeopardize public safety, including, within 20 feet from an intersection, more than a foot from the curb, at handicap ramps, crosswalks and fire hydrants.

The City of Boston is opening its municipal parking lots to neighborhood residents for long-term parking during the storm. In addition, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) has worked with private parking lot and garage owners in Boston to secure 15,500 free or discounted parking spaces for Boston Residents. Residents are asked to please remove vehicles from streets that are posted as "Snow Emergency" Arteries and park them in these alternate off-street locations.

Public Libraries

All Boston Public Libraries will be closed on Tuesday, February 10.

Helping the Homeless

Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will continue to coordinate their city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless during this impending storm. Shelters are kept open during the day for the safety and well being of our clients. Beginning Monday, the site at Southampton Street will also offer daytime hours. Throughout the storm, BPHC will encourage our guests to remain indoors in our shelter network for their safety.

Working with the Pine Street Outreach Team and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, BPHC actively seeks out individuals and helps them find shelter during a cold snap, providing food, clothing, blankets, medical assistance to those in need.

All individuals seeking shelter should go to Central Intake, located at Woods Mullen Shelter - 794 Massachusetts Avenue in the South End at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.

Community Meetings and Hearings

All city-sponsored community meetings and hearings for Tuesday have been canceled.

City Workers

In the City of Boston, only emergency operations personnel will be required to report to work on Tuesday.