Philadelphia Snow Emergency Starts at 9 a.m. Thursday

The city's snow emergency goes into effect at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.

Here's what it means:

All vehicles parked on Snow Emergency Routes must be moved to an alternate parking location by this time. Any vehicle remaining on a Snow Emergency Route during the declared Snow Emergency will be ticketed and towed. If your car is towed, call 215-686-SNOW for its location. Do NOT call 911. A list of snow emergency routes can be found at www.phila.gov/streets/Snow_Emergency.html.
 
“The Philadelphia Parking Authority is committed to working with Mayor Michael Nutter during the upcoming snow emergency," PPA Executive Director Vince Fenerty said, “by encouraging people to remove vehicles from city streets and take advantage of the PPA's discounted garage parking rate.”
 
Beginning at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, and ending Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m., the following PPA owned and operated center city garages will charge a 24 hour flat parking rate of $5.00:

•     Auto-Park at JFK (16th & JFK)
•     Auto-Park at Independence Mall (5th & Market)
•     Auto-Park at Jefferson (10th & Ludlow)
•     Auto-Park at Gallery Mall (10th & Filbert)
•     8th & Filbert
•     2nd and Sansom
•     8th & Chestnut
•     19th & Callowhill
•     15th & Arch

Trash Pickup and Snow Removal
Streets Commissioner Clarena Tolson announced trash and recycling collection will be postponed for residents that have Thursday and Friday pickup. Residents are asked to place their trash and recycling out Thursday and Friday of next week when they will be collected. To prevent Sanitation trucks from being unable to access impassable driveways, residents who have rear driveway pickup on Mondays and Tuesdays are urged to set out their trash and recycling in front of their homes for curbside pickup.
 
“We are asking residents for their patience and cooperation again as we prepare to fight our third snowstorm in four weeks, said Streets Commissioner Tolson. “Our crews will focus efforts on removing snow in a timely manner, but illegally parked cars and throwing snow back into the streets will hinder our ability to clear the roads, especially around some of the smaller streets.”
 
For successful snow and ice management, Streets Commissioner Tolson urges residents to follow these tips:

•     Apply any commercial de-icer on steps and sidewalks early to prevent residual moisture from freezing over and creating icy conditions.
•     Clear a sidewalk path at least 30” wide within 6 hours of the end of the storm as listed in the Philadelphia Code (10-720).
•     Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain.
•     Be conscious of the environment – use de-icing salts only as much as needed. One pound of de-icer can cover 100 to 200 square feet .
•     Salt should be applied as soon as a light accumulation has developed on the surface. This will break the bond between additional accumulations and the pavement surface, and will make it easier to shovel.
•     A final light application of a de-icer may be required after removal is completed to melt the residual snow.
•     Make sure you park your car as far away from the corner as possible. Cars parked too close to the corner limit the turning radius of salting vehicles.
•     Stay tuned to local media for further updates.
•     Check on sick and elderly neighbors.

Get More: City's Office of Emergency Management