Due to the forecast calling for substantial snowfall on Sunday, the Town Manager for the Town of Poolesville is declaring a winter weather emergency pursuant to sec. 12.7 of the Town of Poolesville code. This emergency will begin at 6 PM on Saturday, January 24, and end at noon on Tuesday, January 27th. To ensure efficient snow removal operations, please park all vehicles in your driveways. Vehicles parked on roadways create a hazard during snow events, decrease the effectiveness of the snow removal operations, and increase the risk of damage to your car. Per the code, parked vehicles that pose a hazard during snow events may be towed.
When it snows, Town Staff and contracted plow forces mobilize on residential neighborhood streets to keep them passable. Plowing generally begins when snow becomes 2 to 3 inches deep, and the temperature indicates there will be no melting. Even after plowing, hard-packed snow from traffic often remains on the street, and the plows are unable to remove it completely. In this type of situation, salt is spread to provide adequate traction.
Crews typically try to hit each road every 2 hours. Please be patient. Streets are plowed according to their priority. Town employees work around the clock until all Town-maintained streets are passable. We have approximately 10 employees, 2 contractors, and 10 pieces of snow removal equipment.
When plowing operations are underway, snow “berms” are created across driveways. The plow operators do not always have control over the snow windrow that forms along the edge of the blade, especially during heavy or large accumulations. The Town crews try to keep this problem to a minimum, but cannot always articulate the blade away from the 2,000 driveways in Town. To minimize the amount of snow across the driveway, shovel out an area — looking at your house to the right side of your driveway — that would allow for the amount of snow that’s on that plow to be discharged in that area before it goes past your driveway.
The Town applauds residents and business owners for clearing the sidewalks and assisting their neighbors and customers in weathering the storm. Property owners are required by code to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall event. This makes it safe for children to walk to school or the bus stop. Please lend a hand to elderly or disabled neighbors who cannot clear their own sidewalks, porches, and steps. In addition, we request that residents shovel out fire hydrants on or around their property.
We request that citizens of Poolesville be patient and recognize that, during the winter months, there will be some inconveniences. Snow operations are labor-intensive, and equipment does fail on occasion. The Town of Poolesville staff is dedicated to ensuring residents' safety during these events.
If you have any questions about this snow emergency, please reach out to town hall either by calling 301-428-8927 or emailing townhall@poolesvillemd.gov.
Stay safe and warm!