Winter Weather Preparedness
Essential Information
- Cancellations, Closings & Delays
- Snow Clearing & Transit Info: For snow related inquiries or concerns, contact snow@arlingtonva.us or call the snow hotline at 703-228-6485.
- If you have a health or safety emergency, contact 911.
- Power Outage: Call Dominion at 1-888-667-3000 (jot the number down, just in case).
- See some helpful tips about what to do if the power goes out unexpectedly
- Downed Trees/Branches:
- For trees on County roads, call 703-558-2222
- For trees and branches on power lines, call Dominion 1-888-667-3000
- For trees and branches on State roads, call VDOT 1-888-383-8368
- Snow-Plowing Video: Answers to common snow-plowing Q&As
- How Snow Fighting Works: Main roads come first.
- What's a Snow Spotter? (link to .pdf)
Top Snow Tips
Be prepared to shelter in place. Keep a three-to-five-day supply of non-perishable food and water on hand, along with a non-electric can opener, battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries. Arlington ’s Emergency Preparedness webpage contains detailed information to help you plan for any type of emergency situation.
Stay informed.
- Tune to 1700 AM, Arlington's Emergency Alert Channel and listen to weather information on other local TV and radio stations
- Check the County website and cable channel for updates (Comcast 25/74 & Verizon 39/40).
- Sign up for Arlington Alert, Arlington’s free service that sends text messages to your mobile device during an emergency.
- Have a battery-powered radio in case of power outage.
Clear snow from driveways, sidewalks, entrances.
- Residents and business owners are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks around their property.
- Consider helping neighbors if they're unable to clear their own snow. Make sure downspouts can drain away from your house to avoid potential seepage into your basement.
- To minimize the problem of the snowplow covering your driveway with snow after you've just shoveled it, shovel snow into the yard instead of into the street
- Home and business owners should be mindful of the impact that substantial snow accumulation can have on roof safety due to excessive weight from snow. Individuals with safe access to flat roofs are encouraged to remove the snow, only its removal can occur without risk to personal safety.
Conserve fuel during a storm by keeping your house cooler than normal. Lower the thermostat and close off unused rooms to save energy.
Beware of carbon monoxide. If using generators, kerosene heaters or gas fireplaces, read the owner's manual on maintaining proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Keep heaters at least three feet from flammable objects.
Check on others — help neighbors. Especially check on those who are elderly or at risk, to ensure they are safe. Also offer to help shovel snow!
Drive carefully (or not at all) -- Watch where you park.
- Do not park vehicles on snow emergency routes when snow emergencies are declared.
- Park vehicles in driveways where available, and leave room for plows to clear the street.
- Do not drive unless necessary, so roads will be open for emergency and snow-removal vehicles.
- Beware of black ice when driving — melting during the day can give way to freezing at night.
- Avoid accidents — clear snow from the top of car roofs before driving.
Avoid overexertion. Cold weather puts an added strain on the heart. Unaccustomed exercise such as shoveling snow or pushing a car can bring on a heart attack or make other medical conditions worse.
Emergency Information
- Arlington Emergency Radio - 1700AM
- Comcast 25/74 & Verizon 39/40 (AVN), or local radio and tv stations
- Arlington Alert
- Emergency Preparedness
- Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management
Energy
Safety
Winter Fun
State Roads, Potholes, Trees
Transportation
- ART - Severe Weather Policy
- CommuterPage
- Map of Snow Routes in Arlington
- Metro - Using Metro in a Snowstorm
- Metrobus - Arlington Snow Emergency Routes
- Winter Driving Tips (VDOT)
Weather
