Winter Message from the City Manager
Update from Thursday, January 21, 4:30 PM:
We are beginning to receive information about plans for governmental and transportation closings for this weekend. Here is what I anticipate for the City of Takoma Park:
- City offices open Friday morning, closing by mid-afternoon.
- City offices and facilities closed Saturday and Sunday, except for emergency services.
- On Saturday, Public Works crews will focus on road clearing and responding to emergency situations. The only clearing of public sidewalks and property will be to maintain access to and from the Police station on the lower level of the Community Center.
- On Sunday, Public Works crews will begin digging out, just as the rest of the community will be.
I plan to provide updates a couple of times per day, as new information becomes available.
Original Message:
From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park
Dear Takoma Park Residents,
Well, winter is here!
The timing of last night’s light snow caused serious road icing and caught us off guard. I hope you and your family were able to travel safely last night if you were out at that time. Because we are still treating the roads, today’s trash and recycling collection will begin after 10 AM today.
The large storm coming tomorrow has been talked about for several days, so won’t be a surprise, but it will be remarkably difficult.
Prepare today to be snowed in for several days, possibly with power outages. Predictions are for 18+ inches of snow and 40+ mph winds.
City staff are preparing for 24 hour snow plowing and other emergency services. I will be sending out messages periodically and they will be posted on the City’s webpage, www.takomaparkmd.gov.
Take a few minutes to sign up with Takoma Park Alert! for emergency messages (www.takomaparkmd.gov/services/takoma-park-alert ). We also have different kinds of notices you can choose to receive (www.takomaparkmd.gov/sign-up) and you can follow us via Facebook and Twitter (takomaparkmd).
Besides making sure you have emergency supplies for your family, please take time today to make things easier for our road clearing crews and your neighbors. Please avoid parking on roadways, if at all possible. If cars must be parked on roads, please arrange with your neighbors to park on just one side of the street – the even-numbered side, if possible – so we can get lanes cleared quickly. Do not park close to corners because our snow plows need a lot of room to make the turns.
Snow shoveling requirements will be suspended for the weekend because it will not be possible to do much during the blizzard. Once it is safe to go outside, we need to all work together to dig out and make the sidewalks safe.
What we really need to do is help each other. Check on your neighbors who may need help before the storm to see if they need supplies while it is still possible to get them, and check on them after the storm to make sure they’re okay.
If the storm brings down trees, wires, or causes other unsafe conditions, please call the City of Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100. If you need an ambulance or have a fire, call 911.
If your power goes out, report it to PEPCO at 877-737-2662 or use the PEPCO mobile app.
This will be a very bad storm and we’re all in it together. City staff will be doing all we can to serve and protect you and we know you will pitch in to help. Takoma Park is truly a wonderful place.
If you have any concerns now or through the storm, feel free to contact me via email at suzannel@takomaparkmd.gov .
Stay safe.
Suzanne Ludlow
City Manager
Email: SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7229
