PRESS RELEASE
Mayor Gavin Buckley
Public Information Office
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov
City of Annapolis Offices Closed for Thursday, Feb. 18
City Remains in a Phase Two Snow Emergency
ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 18, 2021) - City Manager David Jarrell has announced that City offices will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 18 due to winter weather.
According to the National Weather Service, the City of Annapolis will remain under a Winter Storm Advisory until 6 a.m. on Friday Expect heavy mixed precipitation. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 5 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch are expected. 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.
The City has declared a Phase Two Snow Emergency as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 17 through Friday, February 18. Parked cars are one of the biggest challenges for snow crews. At this time, vehicles must be moved off of Snow Emergency Routes. The City has opened the four garages (Hillman, Knighton, Gotts and Park Place) for residents to park for free. Vehicles may be towed on Snow Emergency Routes at the expense of the vehicle owner. To find a listing of snow emergency routes, visit: https://www.annapolis.gov/730/Snow-Information.
Residents must remove vehicles from City garages by Friday at 6 p.m. or be charged. At all four City-owned garages, the gates will be open, simply drive out. If possible, park vehicles in driveways and off public streets so plows can clear as much as possible. Due to icy conditions, driving is expected to be treacherous - especially later in the day. If you must drive, please use extreme caution.
Annapolis Transit will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Annapolis Recreation and Parks “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center will be closed for Thursday, Feb. 18.
Emergency Operations Center Office of Emergency Management Activation: The Annapolis Emergency Operations Center is activated. The Annapolis Call Center will open for all non-emergency calls. Annapolis residents can call 410-260-2211 for any non-emergency questions related to the winter storm and City services.
Warming Center Opening: The Stanton Community Center, at 92 West Washington Street in Annapolis, is open as a warming center through February 19. Please note that masks are required, all COVID-19 safety protocols must be followed.
Residents Must Clear Their Section of Sidewalk: The Annapolis City Code requires residents to clear sidewalks (Section 14.24.010) within three hours after the snow or sleet has stopped falling, except between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. Violation of this code requirement is subject to a $25 fine. Please lend a hand to any neighbors who may be physically or otherwise unable to clear sidewalks. (Never use fertilizer to melt ice and snow; the nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer can harm your local streams, groundwater and the Chesapeake Bay!)
Adopt-a-Hydrant: The Annapolis Fire Department asks residents to “Adopt-a-Hydrant,” where residents help to clear hydrants after a winter storm. Buried hydrants cause dangerous delays for firefighters. This alleviates time spent by firefighters who have to search for hydrants buried in drifts or plowed snow in case of an emergency. Volunteers should clear a wide enough perimeter from around the area of the hydrant (at least 3 feet). Also, clear a path from the hydrant to the street. Please wear visible and weather-appropriate clothing when clearing snow/ice.
City of Annapolis Employee Leave Policy: Due to the weather conditions, on Thursday, February 18, City offices are closed. Essential employees should report as scheduled.
The City Council Work Session and Special Meeting for Thursday, Feb. 18 has been postponed to Thursday, February 25.
Stay Informed:
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Sign up for Alert Annapolis, a community notification system. Receive voicemails, text messages, and/or emails in case of emergencies or other events. Find out more at http://alertannapolis.civicready.comL
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