Posting this verbatim. Hope everyone is doing ok!
Clean-up Efforts Underway in City of Boston
Boston Public Schools Closed Monday, February 11
Parking Ban & Snow Emergency Remain in Effect
40 Additional Pieces of Equipment Secured through MEMA, Private Contractors
Mayor
Thomas M. Menino visited neighborhoods throughout the City of Boston
this morning to assess damage left by this weekend’s historic storm.
Boston Public Schools will be closed tomorrow as clean-up efforts
continue, with the primary focus being placed on clearing residential
side streets. The Parking Ban and Snow Emergency will remain in effect.
“Our
number one priority today is getting to the side streets,” Mayor Menino
said. “Residents have been very patient as we work to recover from the
fifth largest snow storm to ever hit the City of Boston. We are doing
everything we can to get additional pieces of equipment into residential
areas, including coordinating with MEMA to get federal and state
resources. As our crews work, I’m urging drivers to continue to stay off
the roads.”
The
City’s Office of Emergency Management and Department of Public Works
are coordinating with MEMA and private contractors to secure additional
equipment to clear residential streets, thus far securing 40 additional pieces.
The primary need for equipment is front end loaders, backhoes and dump
trucks, to remove the large, heavy piles of snow blocking roads. Twenty
pieces of equipment, including front end loaders and 10-wheel dump
trucks, have arrived from the State of Vermont; local contractor Mario
Susi & Son, Inc. has provided 7 additional pieces of equipment,
including backhoes, front end loaders and Bobcats; and other private
contractors have come forward to offer additional support to complement
the full deployment of equipment by the Department of Public Works.
MassDOT, Massport and the Boston Convention and Exposition Center have
also lent equipment to the City.
Boston
Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) will have four community
centers open Monday for parents who need a safe place for their child to
spend the day. Children must be over age 6 and any child under 12 needs
to be dropped off with a parent to fill out a short form before they
leave the child. The centers will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Open
BCYF centers are:
· BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain
· BCYF Hyde Park Community Center, 1179 River Street, Hyde Park
· BCYF Paris Street Community Center, 112 Paris Street, East Boston
· BCYF Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont Street, Mission Hill
The
City is asking residents to continue to stay off the roads when at all
possible. Drivers should continue to proceed with extreme caution if
they must drive, paying special attention to increased numbers of
pedestrians. Side streets are extremely narrow, making the passage of
two vehicles traveling in opposite directions problematic. Large piles
of plowed snow at intersections also present visibility issues.
The Mayor’s
24-Hour Hotline is fully staffed and continues to experience heavy call
volume, receiving more than 20,000 calls since the start of the storm. Residents with storm-related questions or concerns should call the Hotline at 617-635-4500. Residents can also request services and find snow information online at www.cityofboston.gov/snow.
Snow Emergency
While
a snow emergency is in effect, parking is prohibited on all major
arteries in Boston. Mayor Menino urges everyone to use public
transportation when traveling. Residents are reminded to remain at home
throughout the duration of this snow event and businesses tomorrow
should consider asking employees to work from home.
Mayor Menino also reminds residents of the following:
· Older residents or those with health conditions should refrain from shoveling this heavy snow.
· During a Snow Emergency, parking is prohibited on all major arteries in Boston. These streets are posted with “Tow Zone - No Parking During Snow Emergency” signs.
· A listing of major arteries and alternate parking can be found at http://www.cityofboston.gov/
· On streets other than major arteries, do not park within 20 feet of an intersection or further than one foot from the curb, as this impedes access for both emergency vehicles and snow plows.
· Parking space savers
must be removed no more than 48 hours after a snow emergency is lifted.
The City’s Department of Public Works will remove space savers left out
beyond this period.
· Do not throw snow back into the street. “Throwbacks” force the city to remove snow from the same street twice.
· Shovel out fire hydrants, catch basins and pedestrian ramps close to your home.
· Property owners are reminded to shovel snow from sidewalks that abut their homes and businesses and any handicapped ramps close to your homes or business.
· Please check on elderly neighbors and others in need.
During
declared snow emergencies, discounted parking is available at several
parking lots and garages to cars that display Boston resident parking
stickers. Residents are encouraged to use the City’s “Know Snow”
program for access to other important storm-related information. For
more information, visit http://cityofboston.gov/snow
The
City's Shelter Commission asks that any resident who sees a potential
medical emergency involving a homeless person dial 911.
To receive notifications about emergencies from the City, register for the Alert Boston network at http://www.cityofboston.gov/
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