Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Arlington County Bracing for Major Storm
- Near blizzard conditions, up to 10 to 24 inches predicted in the region
- Plowing priorities are main roads, those around critical facilities
- Crews will not reach neighborhoods until 48 hours after the storm
ARLINGTON, VA – Arlington County is ramping up for another major winter storm with near blizzard conditions. The region expects 10 to 24 inches of snow between Friday morning and late Saturday. Wet, heavy snow is predicted which will create additional challenges and delays for snow crews.
“Arlington County is tapping all available resources to respond to this storm and will fully deploy all of our snow equipment starting tomorrow morning,” said Bob Griffin, director for the Department of Environmental Services. “We ask for the public’s continued patience and for residents to stay off the roads for their own safety and so crews can plow. This is not a storm where we will be able to clean up by the following day.”
What Arlington is doing
- Crews will be working in 12-hour shifts around the clock to treat and clear County-maintained streets.
- The County prioritizes roads focusing first on: snow emergency routes, arterial streets, main bus routes, and roads to hospitals, fire stations, Metro stations, the police station and local schools.
- Once priority routes are clear, crews work their way into residential streets.
- After severe storms (more than 10 inches), it may take 48 hours after the snow stops falling before County plows can get to residential streets. Snow removal and treatment may take several days.
- View Snow Plow Routes and see how roadways are prioritized. The County maintains 60 miles each of arterial and collector streets and 256 miles of residential streets.
- Check out the County’s video on snow plowing for answers to commonly asked questions.
What you can do
- Have a plan. Talk with your neighbors.
- Work with neighbors to move cars off the street and into garages or driveways. Park remaining vehicles on one side of the street or partially on the curb. Plows need a roadway clearance of 15 feet and will not go down a street where they cannot safely pass.
- Clear the sidewalks in front of your home or business to ensure the safety of pedestrians. This is especially important where students walk to school and need a safe route.
- Use extra caution when walking outside during and immediately after the storm. Stay off the street whenever possible and be aware of passing vehicles and snow clearing equipment. Wear light, reflective clothing.
- Residents should visit the County web site regularly for updates about and snow related changes to services, such as trash and recycling collection.
Public Transit
During the height of the storm, we urge everyone to stay off the roads. If you need to travel in the County or the region during, or after the storm, try to take public transit to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles and plows. However, given the magnitude of this storm, it is likely that there will be periods of time when local and regional transit services may be suspended for safety reasons. Visit http://www.commuterpage.com/ to sign up for ART (Arlington Transit) and Metro Alerts and to view the latest service information.
Contacting the County
- If you have a true emergency, contact 911.
- Snow service updates: call 703-228-6485.
- Email: Contact snow@arlingtonva.us for a standard update on snow operations. After 48 hours, you can email us with reports of trouble spots in area. Information will be forwarded to the snow operations team.
- Check the County website for frequent updates on closings and cancellations, including updates on school closures and cancellations.
Media Contact
Shannon Whalen-McDaniel, 571-237-2045 OR Myllisa Kennedy, 571-722-8721
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.