Snow Emergencies Declared Across Region Ahead Of Winter Storm

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CBS) – Snow Emergencies have been declared in the following areas due to a winter storm expected to bring significant snow to the region:

PENNSYLVANIA:

City of Chester: The snow emergency is effective immediately.

No vehicle will be permitted to park along a snow emergency route unless signs permit certain parking. Any vehicle found to be in violation may be ticketed or towed by the Police Department at the owner's expense.

Travel is only permitted for essential services workers. City residents are reminded that it is illegal to throw, shovel, cast or otherwise move, place, pile, deposit or dump snow or ice removed from sidewalks, driveways or other areas into the street or public highway.

Residents are further advised that City ordinance prohibits a person from obstructing the sidewalks or roadways of any street, avenue, road or alley. The placement of objects such as chairs, traffic cones or trashcans would be a violation of the ordinance.

Lower Makefield Township: effective January 22 at 11:59 p.m.

Lower Providence Township: effective January 22 at 5 p.m. through Monday at 6 a.m.

• No vehicle shall be parked on the odd numbered side of the street or any road unless there is no off-street parking available at or within 300 feet of the property;
•  Any person who drives a vehicle without chains or snow tires upon any street or road and allows such vehicle to become stalled or incapable of moving under its own power, or who leaves such vehicle unattended, shall be in violation of the ordinance;
•  Any vehicle parked, stalled, incapable of moving or left unattended upon any street or road may be removed or towed by the Police Department.

Warminster Township : effective January 22 at 6:00 p.m.

• Warminster Township will be enforcing Ordinances 625 & 702.
• The Township has deployed all available snow removal vehicles, equipment, and personnel. The Township is asking township residents to remove all vehicles parked on public roadways and to avoid any unnecessary travel.
• To ensure that streets can be adequately plowed and remain open, do not shovel, push, plow, or otherwise cause snow to be placed onto the public roadway.
• Snow and ice should be removed from your sidewalks within 24 hours after snow has ceased falling
• Please clear any fire hydrant on your property within 24 hours after snowfall has ceased
• Remove any basketball nets or other objects that protrude into the roadway.

Philadelphia: effective 9 p.m. Friday

For citizens, officials say a snow emergency means all parked cars must be moved off snow emergency routes for plowing. When relocating your car, park as far from the corner of the street as possible; vehicles parked too close to the corner impede the turning radius of plowing equipment.

Upper Darby Township : effective Friday January 22, 2016 at 6 p.m.

The Mayor, in accordance with the Township's snow emergency plan, declared a snow emergency effective Friday January 22, 2016 at 6 p.m.   The Mayor anticipates that the snow emergency will remain in effect until at least late Sunday afternoon January 24, 2016.

The Emergency declaration will facilitate the township's snow removal and plowing efforts.  During this time, there is a prohibition on parking cars on designated snow emergency routes until the expiration of the emergency declaration. Cars in violation are subject to ticketing and being towed.

The Upper Darby Township snow removal staff has started preparation for snow removal activities, such as applying brine to the roadways.   The salting and removing snow process will being as conditions warrant.

The snow hot line at 610-734-7700 will be put into effect at 7 a.m. Saturday, January 23, 2016 and remain open until at least 4 p.m. Sunday, January 24, 2016.

Emergency situations should be reported to the police and fire by calling 911.

In addition, residents may e-mail concerns to Request@upperdarby.org.

The Upper Darby Township Snow Plan can be viewed on the Township's Website: snow.upperdarby.org or  www.upperdarby.org.

Upper Merion Township : Upper Merion Township has declared a snow emergency for Friday, January 22, 2016 starting at 11 p.m. and continuing until Monday, January 25, 2016 at 6 a.m.

*The end time may be extended due to weather conditions.

Residents of the township are asked to park their motor vehicle(s) in their driveways versus the street in order to make the plowing operation more efficient and effective. Follow Upper Merion Township on Facebook and Twitter for further updates.

West Conshohocken Borough : 8 a.m. Friday, Jan 22 to 8 a.m. Monday, Jan 25

The following streets are deemed Snow Emergency Routes in the Borough of West Conshohocken:

Josephine Avenue
New Dehaven Street
Bullock Avenue (BOTH SIDES)
Spring Garden Street
Dehaven Avenue

With the impending inclement weather happening this Friday into Saturday and/or possibly Sunday, the Borough will be under a snow emergency from 8 a.m. on Friday, January 22nd until 8 a.m. on Monday, January 25th, if the current forecast doesn't change.

The Borough will implement a new plan that HAS NOT been used in the past. The Borough are advising that all vehicles MUST be parked and stay parked on the EVEN side of the roadway until the snow emergency is over. Bullock Avenue (BOTH SIDES) is a snow emergency route. St. Getrude's Church parking lot will be open for residents to park their vehicles. The borough will plow this parking lot during the course of this snow storm.

Once Public Works has cleaned your street please be courteous and DO NOT PUSH snow back out onto the street as this will cause re-icing conditions.  You may also be asked to move your vehicle so that the Streets Department can maintain a clear roadway for Emergency vehicles. Please watch the local news and the Borough's Facebook page for updates as the storm approaches. If your vehicle(s) are not moved you will incur the possibility of a fine as well as having your vehicle being towed.

DELAWARE

City of Wilmington - Due to the current forecasts reported from the National Weather Service, officials say the City of Wilmington has declared a State of Emergency in preparation for the potential severe winter storm and hazardous roadways. The State of Emergency, pursuant to the emergency provisions of Chapter 7 of the Wilmington City Code, will be effective Saturday at 12 a.m.

"As multiple reports indicate the City and surrounding areas could experience significant snow and inclement weather conditions, it is critical citizens properly prepare for the storm," said Mayor Dennis P. Williams in a news release. "We encourage residents to stay off the roadways, have emergency supplies and take extra precautions for the cold temperatures."

In a State of Emergency, officials say any person operating a motor vehicle shall exercise extra caution while driving. Nonessential employees are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on the City's roadways, unless there is a significant safety, health, or alternative necessary reason to do so. As the snow arrives, the Department of Public Works, Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Police and the Department of Fire will work in coordination to provide continuity of service.

In response to the storm, officials say plow trucks will be deployed to major road arteries, which are considered primary streets. The primary streets include: 2nd and 4th Streets; 10th, 11th and 12th Streets; Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; Lancaster Avenue; Union Street; Washington Street; Concord Avenue; North and South Market Streets; Miller Road; Delaware Avenue; Pennsylvania Avenue; Adams Street; Jackson Street; North and South Walnut Street; 8th and 9th Streets; Clayton Street; and DuPont Street. Once primary routes are cleared, plow trucks are redirected to alternate routes. After primary and emergency routes have been cleared, plow trucks move to clear the 17 neighborhood routes.

"Road conditions can deteriorate and become hazardous," said Jeffery Starkey, Commissioner for the Department of Public Works in the news release. "We strongly encourage drivers to avoid being on the road as our crews will work to clear roadways."

In case of an emergency, residents should use the emergency contact information listed below.

Emergency- call 911

Non-Emergency Inquiries-
Public Works Call Center- (Operators are on duty 6:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday)
Phone: (302) 576-3878

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