DC Snow Team Initiates First Full Deployment of 2012-2013 Winter Season; Pre-Treatment Begins

Plows will be on their routes by 4 am Sat., Dec. 29; up to one inch of snow may accumulate before changing to rain
(Washington, DC) In anticipation of a winter storm predicted for this weekend, the DC Snow Team (Departments of Public Works and Transportation) will deploy 200 snow plows by 4 am on Saturday, December 29 and will pre-treat bridges, overpasses and other elevated structures with a brine and beet juice solution to reduce the possibility of freezing. The weather services predict about 1inch of snow to accumulate in the District during the pre-dawn hours and then mix with rain after 9-10AM.

“The 200 plows will begin spreading salt on DC streets, including 82 residential routes once snow begins to fall,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “The system is fast moving and is expected to leave the area by 3-4PM Saturday. We will monitor storm conditions to determine what, if any, changes should be made in our deployment plan. The temperature is expected to be just above freezing during the day on Saturday, but will drop below freezing Saturday night; therefore, motorists and pedestrians should be very cautious as they travel because refreezing may occur.”

To track the plows, go to snow.dc.gov and click on http://snowmap.dc.gov/.

Snow Safety and Preparedness Tips: People driving, walking or bicycling around the District should travel cautiously. Property owners are asked to pre-treat their sidewalks with abrasives and remove snow within 24 hours of the end of the storm, and assist their elderly or disabled neighbors with clearing their sidewalks. Also, for our drivers’ safety and yours, “Don’t crowd the plow.” Residents are encouraged to go to snow.dc.gov for updates before, during and after snowstorms, and for tips to get one’s home and family prepared for inclement weather. Residents also may sign up at alert.dc.gov to receive emergency alerts and notifications from Alert DC.

Trash/Recycling Collections: DPW trash and recycling collections will be made Saturday, December 29. “We did not collect trash and recycling on Christmas, so our collections schedule ‘slides’ to the next day and Friday’s collections will be made Saturday,” said Director Howland. He added that next week normal collections will be made Monday, December 31, collections will not be made Tuesday, January 1 and collections through the rest of the week “slide” to the next day.