Winter Weather Message from the City Manager

From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park

Dear Takoma Park Residents,

It looks like we may be in for a big March snowstorm Monday night!

March snowstorms tend to be heavy and wet. March snow usually melts within a few days, but in the meantime there can be a good deal of headache. Plan now for these possibilities in the event that we see the snow weather that is currently expected:

• Facility or road closures – Sign up for Takoma Park Alert! so you can receive emergency messages from the City of Takoma Park. We also send out information via Twitter, Facebook and postings on the City’s web page (https://takomaparkmd.gov).
• Power outages – Wind, ice and wet snow on budding trees can cause branches to break and power lines to come down. Make sure you have flashlights, food, medicine etc. for up to three days without power.
• Snowplowing – Please move cars off of streets on Monday so that snowplows can clear the roads Monday night. If you must park on the street, please arrange with your neighbors to park on just one side of the street – the even-numbered side if there is a choice – so that clearing to the curb can take place. Cars can then be moved over to the cleared side of the street on Tuesday so that the other side of the street may be plowed.
• Shovel your sidewalks – It’s neighborly (and the law) to clear sidewalks of snow by noon after a night of snow or 9 pm after a day of snow. Help others with clearing snow if you can. Make a party of it! The sooner the sidewalks are clear, the faster we will have dry pavement and we can be safe getting to school, work and the grocery store.

If you see a problem, let us know! If it’s an emergency, call 911. If it’s to report an icy road or other condition that needs to be addressed promptly, call our Police office at 301-270-1100 at any time of day or night and they will have Police or Public Works crews respond. If it’s less urgent but you see a problem that needs to be resolved, please feel free to email me at SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov. One way or another, we want to be responsive and provide excellent service.

Takoma Park didn’t have a major summer storm last year and we’ve avoided most winter conditions this winter, so please take a few minutes to remember how to prepare for storms. Talk to your family about what to do in different situations. The Red Cross is a great source for tips and guidance on what to do to plan for winter weather.

Our Public Works crews are eager to show their expertise at snow removal. Your help in preparing for rapid snow clearing will help them do their job.

I keep hoping that getting my snow shovel out of the basement will keep us from a snowstorm in the same way that bringing an umbrella with me to work seems to keep the rain away. However, the weather reports are leaning heavily towards snow.

Please prepare, be safe and think Spring!

Suzanne Ludlow