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Snow & Ice Removal – What Residents should Know

Snow on 53rd Avenue – January 23, 2013

The following advisory was issued to the community about the snow and ice removal:

Property owners, occupants and merchants are reminded of the City requirement to remove accumulated snow and ice from all walkways, driveways, parking lots and other areas used by pedestrians or automobiles. The owner or occupant of any property that abuts the sidewalk must clean public sidewalks of ice, sleet and snow for their full width. It is required that snow and ice be removed within the first 24 hours after the winter weather event ends. These requirements are listed under City Code Section 141-5, and County Code 23-150.

Ensuring that public sidewalks are cleared of snow and ice is an important safety and accessibility consideration for pedestrians. It is especially important for students who walk to school, senior citizens, young children, and people with accessibility needs.

Though City code enforcement officers may not cite all such violations immediately after a storm, failure to comply with this regulation in a timely manner could be used as evidence by anyone injured in a fall on or adjacent to your property if you are sued for such injuries.

Be prepared! Keep snow shovels and salt ready for the next storm, and plan to have help available if necessary to make your walkway safe as soon as the snow stops falling.

For more information about the City’s Guide to Winter Weather, please visit
www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow.

Weather Alert – December 15, 2022

Due to impending inclement weather, all City offices will have a delayed opening of 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 15, 2022. We will continue to evaluate the situation, and any updates will be posted on the City’s website at www.collegeparkmd.gov. All staff designated as emergency employees should report as directed by their supervisor.

With the forecasted winter weather, the City urges residents to visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow for tips on parking, shoveling and more during snow/ice events. To help our snowplows clear City streets, please park off the road or on one side of the road. Make sure to clear public sidewalks of snow and ice to help ensure the safety of our pedestrians; read more about snow and ice removal requirements at www.collegeparkmd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=431.
[City of College Park]

How to Report Possible Storm Related Damages to Pepco

Tropical Storm Ian will be moving through our region this weekend, bringing heavy rainfall and potentially high winds. This weather could bring down trees, causing damage to electrical equipment and resulting in power outages for residents. If you are a PEPCO customer and experience a power outage, please report it through one of the following methods:

• Pepco website: Report an Outage

• Pepco phone: 1-877-737-2662 to report an outage or downed wire

• Pepco text: “ADD OUTAGE” to 48710 to sign up for text service; then text “Out” to 48710 to report an outage

• Pepco mobile app: Apple or Android (download the app to phone)

Do not approach downed wires and other equipment; assume any downed wire or equipment is energized.

Please be vigilant and stay safe.

Local Weather Updates in the Wake of Tropical Storm Ian

In the wake of the recent Tropical Storm Ian, the Prince George’s County officials got some updates from the National Weather Service this afternoon about the expected impacts for our area.

Currently there are no Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Prince George’s County. At the time of the call, Tropical Storm Ian was located just northeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida in the Atlantic Ocean heading north-northwest at 9 mph with sustained winds of 70 mph.

Ian is expected to strengthen slightly and may become a Category 1 hurricane while in the Atlantic before reaching landfall again near the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Ian will then turn northwest and will head into North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Western Virginia and into Kentucky. It is expected Ian will weaken significantly and become a post-tropical depression.

The primary impact associated with the remnants of Ian over Prince George’s County will be potential for moderate to heavy rain this weekend. Light rain looks to spread over the county tomorrow afternoon (Friday afternoon). Rain intensity will ramp up Friday night into Saturday morning (moderate rain Friday night, and moderate to occasionally heavy rain on Saturday). Light to moderate rain is likely to continue through much of Sunday. There is still uncertainty about how much rain is expected, and it looks more likely that light rain could linger across the area through Monday or even Tuesday.

The latest forecast still shows 2.00 to 3.00 inches of rain across the County this weekend. However, this rain will fall over a relatively long period of time, and the ground is dry at present, so any flood concerns are expected to be minor/localized at most. High winds are not expected, but sustained winds are likely to be 13-19 mph for Saturday into Sunday, with gusts of 30-35 mph at times on Saturday and Sunday.

At this time, County’s Emergency Operation Center will not activate for this event, but they will monitor the event and address resource needs as they occur.

If anything changes, we will send out additional information.

Up to 5 inches of Snow Expected Tomorrow

Get your snow shovels ready, we have a chance for accumulating snow Monday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for D.C. and surrounding areas for 2 to 4 inches of snow in general, with some areas getting up to 6 inches or more of snow.

D.C. was initially under a Winter Storm Watch but has since been removed from the Watch and placed under an advisory instead.

College Park’s Department of Public Works plows and treats City maintained streets and City parking lots to clear snow and ice during winter storms. Public Works crews are staffed around the clock during snow emergencies to clear the 51 road miles of City streets. For questions, or to report a City road that hasn’t been plowed, please contact the Department at 240-487-3590.
Updates will be posted on the City’s website, all City social media accounts (FacebookTwitter and Instagram) and emailed (sign up here).
Click here for helpful information on how the Department of Public Works handles snow plowing and road treatments throughout the City.

Tornado Watch Issued Until 7pm Today

A Tornado Watch has been issued for our area until 7 p.m. this evening (Wednesday). Stay tuned to your local news channels for more info. A tornado watch means weather conditions could lead to the formation of severe storms and possible tornadoes. Be prepared. Know your safe location if you are told to take shelter. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching.

Safety Resources:

University of Maryland Police
Emergency Number –  301-405-3333 / #3333 from a mobile phone / 911
Non-Emergency Number – 301-405-3555

UMD Guardian (Mobile Campus Safety App)
umpdnews.umd.edu/umdguardian

Prince George’s County Police
911 from mobile phone
Non-Emergency Number – 301-352-1200

UMD Police Walking Escort/Non-Emergency:
301-405-3555

NITE Ride
301-314-6483
http://www.transportation.umd.edu/niteride.html

Help Center (Peer Counseling & Crisis Intervention)
301-314-4357
http://helpcenterumd.org

Counseling Center
301-314-7651
http://counseling.umd.edu/

CARE (Confidential Services for Sexual Assault/Harassment/Rape)
301-741-3442
http://www.health.umd.edu/care

Health Center
301-314-8180
http://www.health.umd.edu/

Office of Civil Rights & Sexual Misconduct (Title IX)
301-405-1142

TitleIXcoordinator@umd.edu
ocrsm.umd.edu

Snow Storm Warning for Tomorrow, Sunday

Heavy snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected in our area, including portions of central and southern Maryland, the District of Columbia, and northern Virginia.

WHEN…From 3 AM to noon EST Sunday.

IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult.

Snow is expected to begin between 3 AM and 5 AM, and may briefly mix with rain at first. The heaviest snow is expected between 6 AM and 10 AM, when visibility may be reduced to a quarter-mile and snowfall rates could reach one inch per hour.

Recommended actions
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on
steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury. ready.gov

Ways to Prepare and stay safe now

  • Stay indoors during the storm. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause hypothermia.
  • Walk and drive carefully on icy sidewalks and roads. Many injuries and accidents are caused by slippery conditions. Better have a peek at this web-site for best injury treatment and medication.
  • Before driving, let someone know your destination, route, and expected time of arrival. If your car gets stuck, it’ll be easier to find you.
  • If you lose feeling and color in your nose, ears, hands, or feet, cover the exposed area, avoid rubbing your skin, and seek medical help immediately. You may have frostbite.
  • When shoveling snow, take breaks and lift lighter loads. Working too hard can lead to heart attacks.
  • Stay dry. Wet clothes make you lose body heat, increasing your risk of hypothermia.

What is a Winter Storm Warning?
A winter weather event including 1) snow, ice, or sleet meeting or exceeding locally defined 12 and/or 24 hour warning criteria; or 2) a combination of snow, ice, or sleet and blowing snow with at least one of the precipitation elements meeting or exceeding locally defined 12 and/or 24 hour warning criteria.

[Sources: National Weather Service, Noaa.gov, Ready.gov, Google.org]

Pepco Watching Potential Snow Storm Today

Pepco, in a press release, stated that they are continuing to closely monitor a weather forecast that calls for a combination of rain, snow, ice, and gusty winds that are expected to impact the company’s service area today and Thursday of this week.

The combination of heavy wet snow, ice, and windy conditions can down trees and tree limbs that can damage the local energy grid and result in power outages for customers. These conditions also increase the potential for vehicles to contact local utility poles and other equipment, resulting in power outages for customers.

Pepco said they are prepared for this event and have enhanced the staffing plans to ensure necessary resources are available to respond for Pepco customers. In addition to internal line mechanics and other field workers, Pepco has local overhead line contractors and tree-trimming personnel available to assist in any restoration effort. The company also will have additional customer care representatives available to handle customer emergency and outage calls. Should Pepco need extra assistance, the company can call on shared resources from other nearby companies in the Exelon family.

Just like we prepare for potential damage that may occur, it’s always a good idea for customers to prepare in advance for any forecasted severe weather as follows:

  • Customers who need power for critical medical equipment should be prepared to relocate to a facility with electricity in case there is a power outage.
  • Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.
  • Charge cell phones, like those from Refurbished iPhone Melbourne, and other mobile devices.
  • Consider backup chargers. Sportsman generators’ specialty lies in its portability. While being portable, it packs a lot of power to supply electricity to even the most demanding gadgets.
  • Have a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
  • More tips available at pepco.com/storm.

Also, if storm damage does occur:

  • Always stay away from any storm-damaged electrical equipment, especially downed power lines and tree limbs that may come into contact with power lines.
  • Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.
  • Don’t connect your generator directly to your home’s wiring. Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage. Read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.
  • Turn on the water to a trickle to help prevent pipes from freezing.
  • Tune in to local radio stations for safety and status reports.

Lastly, Pepco encourages you to remind your residents to report outages and downed wires.

  • Pepco is urging customers to stay away from downed wires and assume any downed wire is energized.
  • To report an outage or downed wire, call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) or report and track through Pepco’s mobile app or Pepco website at pepco.com/storm.
  • Customers also can text “Out” to 48710 to report their outage.
  • Customers must first text “ADD OUTAGE” to 48710 to sign up for this service.
  • Customers also are encouraged to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/pepco and on Twitter at twitter.com/pepco to get the latest information from the company.

To report any outages or downed wires and to request callbacks, please adhere to the following:

Customers’ reports are vital to Pepco’s restoration efforts. Pepco also recommends that, when reporting an outage, customers request an automated call when their power is restored.

Callbacks allow Pepco to notify customers when work in their area is completed and they also help Pepco locate outages that may be specific to customers’ homes.

As always, we are working to continue to provide you with safe and reliable service and ask that everyone work to maintain their safety during this COVID-19 pandemic experience.

If you have any additional questions, pls. reach out to me via email or cell phone (202) 360-7407.

Severe Weather, Tornado Watch – Please Take Cautions

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch this afternoon.

Earlier they forecasted scattered severe thunderstorms, with storms expected to hit our County later this afternoon and this evening. Damaging wing gusts, up to 40 mph, are expected to accompany these storms.

Expect heavy rain, about 1-2 inches across the I-95 corridor. Heavy rain may lead to scattered instances of minor flooding this evening. Moderate tidal flooding will be possible during tonight’s tide cycle along the Anne Arundel and Baltimore County coastline. A coastal flood watch is in effect.

Please note that this storm may affect the trick-or-treaters in the neighborhood. Please take caution.

 

Tornado Watch, Until 3 a.m. Tonight

This evening, the National Weather Service issued the tornado watch, which runs until 3 a.m. on April 15.

According to the Watch (please see below), 13 Maryland counties, plus the city of Baltimore, have been asked to watch the tornado until early Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected tonight into tomorrow that could generate damaging wind gusts and an isolated tornado. Heavy rain in thunderstorms may lead to isolated instances of flooding, the weather service says.

Tornado Watch, by the National Weather Service

 

Gov. Larry Hogan said: “I am asking all Marylanders to pay close attention to the updated weather forecasts for this evening and overnight.  The National Weather Service is predicting severe storms, high wind gusts, and the potential for isolated tornadoes across the state. Residents should take every possible precaution, and stay indoors away from windows during thunderstorms. It is especially critical to make sure that emergency alerts are turned on in your mobile device settings.”

 

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