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Contrite or defiant after missteps, officials say they’re set for big storm Contrite or defiant after missteps, officials say they’re set for big storm
(about 1 hour later)
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and top officials in Maryland and Virginia veered toward either contrition or defiance Thursday in explaining how an undercard storm sucker-punched the region this week.D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser and top officials in Maryland and Virginia veered toward either contrition or defiance Thursday in explaining how an undercard storm sucker-punched the region this week.
But they all promised to unleash the full powers of their governments on the expected weekend storm.But they all promised to unleash the full powers of their governments on the expected weekend storm.
Gone were subtleties of response planning and resource allocation. In were pledges to harness convoys of trucks and deploy legions of personnel in an all-out bout of preparation and response. Gone were subtleties of response planning and resource allocation. Instead, there were pledges to harness convoys of trucks and deploy legions of personnel in an all-out bout of preparation and response.
“Basically, we’re throwing everything at it,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.“Basically, we’re throwing everything at it,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn.
That’s in sharp contrast to the Washington region’s modest preparations — or, in the view of many commuters, negligence — ahead of Wednesday night’s snowfall that paralyzed wide swaths of the area and left motorists stalled in freezing, dangerous commutes that for hundreds spilled into the next day. That response is in sharp contrast to the Washington region’s modest preparations — or, in the view of many commuters, negligence — ahead of Wednesday night’s snowfall that paralyzed wide swaths of the area and left motorists stalled in freezing, dangerous commutes that for hundreds spilled into the next day.
“We delivered on our emergency operations plan,” Rahn said. “We had the people and equipment ready to go where this storm was supposed to be.“We delivered on our emergency operations plan,” Rahn said. “We had the people and equipment ready to go where this storm was supposed to be.
“When something else occurs, we have to respond — and we did,” Rahn said, adding that forecasts on the amounts of snow and areas likely to be hardest hit shifted late and Maryland was hit harder than expected. “When something else occurs, we have to respond — and we did,” Rahn said, adding that forecasts on the amounts of snow and areas likely to be hit hardest shifted late and Maryland got more than expected.
The National Weather Service sent an alert at 11:14 a.m. Wednesday covering the Washington region and beyond, warning of accumulations ranging from “a coating to an inch” and noting “roads this evening will be snow covered and slippery . . . and this will make travelling hazardous.” The National Weather Service sent an alert at 11:14 a.m. Wednesday covering the Washington region and beyond, warning of accumulations ranging from “a coating to an inch” and noting that “roads this evening will be snow covered and slippery . . . and this will make travelling hazardous.”
But Thursday, some forecasters, notably The Post’s Capital Weather Gang, shouldered some of the responsibility, saying even though it had reported on the advisory, it “didn’t convey the urgency of the threat.” But Thursday, some forecasters, notably The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang, shouldered some of the responsibility, saying that even though it had reported on the advisory, it “didn’t convey the urgency of the threat.”
That was little comfort for commuters whose trips home took as long as nine hours in some cases.That was little comfort for commuters whose trips home took as long as nine hours in some cases.
Kimberly Graham, a manager with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was not merely displeased about her commute.Kimberly Graham, a manager with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was not merely displeased about her commute.
She was terrified.She was terrified.
“I’ve never driven in those conditions in my 28 years of federal government employment,” Graham said. She saw abandoned cars, fender-benders, vehicles sliding all over and motorists relieving themselves on the side of the road, but no sign of authorities along her route, she said. “I’ve never driven in those conditions in my 28 years of federal government employment,” Graham said. She saw abandoned cars, fender benders, vehicles sliding all over and motorists relieving themselves on the side of the road, but no sign of authorities along her route, she said.
“I didn’t see a single plow nor did I see a police officer, which really threw me off,” she said.“I didn’t see a single plow nor did I see a police officer, which really threw me off,” she said.
She inched home, praying, and arrived home in La Plata, Md. at 12:50 a.m. after more than six hours.She inched home, praying, and arrived home in La Plata, Md. at 12:50 a.m. after more than six hours.
“I know people were not happy with the situation they were in,” Rahn said. “I understand that. But as I go back to review what we undertook, I can’t identify an act that we could have done sooner, or to a greater extent, than we did. I don’t see an area where we just fell down on the job.”“I know people were not happy with the situation they were in,” Rahn said. “I understand that. But as I go back to review what we undertook, I can’t identify an act that we could have done sooner, or to a greater extent, than we did. I don’t see an area where we just fell down on the job.”
Bowser (D), who inaugurated her mayoralty last year with a bumbled snow response, took a sharply different tack. Responding to widespread commuter blow-back from the ordeal, she acknowledged that the city had failed its residents. Bowser (D), who inaugurated her mayoralty last year with a bumbled snow response, took a sharply different tack. Responding to widespread commuter blowback from the ordeal, she acknowledged that the city had failed its residents.
“We are very sorry for [the] inadequate response,” Bowser said at a news conference. “We should have been out earlier with more resources.”“We are very sorry for [the] inadequate response,” Bowser said at a news conference. “We should have been out earlier with more resources.”
Bowser also left open the possibility that even if the city had used its full arsenal, it still might have failed. She noted that a limited number of city trucks were out spreading a beet juice and brine solution at 4 p.m. Wednesday to keep roads from icing up, and snow didn’t start falling until sometime after 5 p.m. Bowser also left open the possibility that even if the city had used its full arsenal, it might have failed. She noted that a limited number of city trucks were out spreading a beet juice and brine solution at 4 p.m. Wednesday to keep roads from icing up, and snow didn’t start falling until sometime after 5 p.m.
“So our speculation is, we may have seen a difference. We may not have seen a difference, too. But we would have known we put everything that we had at it,” Bowser said.“So our speculation is, we may have seen a difference. We may not have seen a difference, too. But we would have known we put everything that we had at it,” Bowser said.
Christopher Shorter, who as Bowser’s director of public works oversees ice-prevention and plowing, said the city has more than 250 vehicles for spreading salt and brine and plowing city roads, and all of them should have been sent out ahead of Wednesday’s evening commute. Shorter said he could not provide the number of trucks that were out at 4 p.m. He said a number of trucks used brine to pretreat major corridors and bridges, but he didn’t know how many. Christopher Shorter, who as Bowser’s director of public works oversees ice-prevention and plowing, said the city has more than 250 vehicles for spreading salt and brine and plowing city roads, and all of them should have been sent out ahead of Wednesday’s commute. Shorter said he could not provide the number of trucks that were out at 4 p.m. He said a number of trucks used brine to pretreat major corridors and bridges, but he didn’t know how many.
By late Wednesday, city officials announced they would triple the number of salt-spreading trucks on the street from 50 to 150, “in light of the more intense storm that started after dusk.”By late Wednesday, city officials announced they would triple the number of salt-spreading trucks on the street from 50 to 150, “in light of the more intense storm that started after dusk.”
“Having experienced the event, what we would have done differently” is have a “full deployment in the District and had our full set of resources available to meet the needs of District residents,” Shorter said.“Having experienced the event, what we would have done differently” is have a “full deployment in the District and had our full set of resources available to meet the needs of District residents,” Shorter said.
For the blizzard forecast to start Friday, it’s all hands on deck. Shorter said the full 250-vehicle fleet will be out, along with 85 vehicles brought in under contract. For the blizzard expected to start Friday, it’s all hands on deck. Shorter said the 250-vehicle fleet will be out, along with 85 vehicles brought in under contract.
Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said a decision was made by Northern Virginia district transportation officials not to treat roads with a brine solution before Wednesday’s snow. Their fear, Layne said, was that the solution could freeze “and make the situation worse.” They decided to use rock salt instead. But it came late, after many patches had already turned to ice, leading to accidents and gargantuan backups that in turn slowed the application of salt.Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said a decision was made by Northern Virginia district transportation officials not to treat roads with a brine solution before Wednesday’s snow. Their fear, Layne said, was that the solution could freeze “and make the situation worse.” They decided to use rock salt instead. But it came late, after many patches had already turned to ice, leading to accidents and gargantuan backups that in turn slowed the application of salt.
“That was a very untimely event, yes. Nobody’s happy about it. But we responded immediately when it happened,” Layne said.“That was a very untimely event, yes. Nobody’s happy about it. But we responded immediately when it happened,” Layne said.
The brine solution Virginia uses on its roads loses effectiveness at pavement temperatures below 20 degrees, said Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.The brine solution Virginia uses on its roads loses effectiveness at pavement temperatures below 20 degrees, said Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Officials in places that get weather substantially colder than the D.C. region said there are alternative treatments available for colder temperatures.Officials in places that get weather substantially colder than the D.C. region said there are alternative treatments available for colder temperatures.
Kevin Gutknecht, communications director with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said there are ways to mitigate the icing of brine in extremely cold temperatures. He said various chloride components can be effective at temperatures below 20 degrees. It’s just a matter of states buying and deploying them, though “they also have different price points.”Kevin Gutknecht, communications director with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said there are ways to mitigate the icing of brine in extremely cold temperatures. He said various chloride components can be effective at temperatures below 20 degrees. It’s just a matter of states buying and deploying them, though “they also have different price points.”
One VDOT official said the state has limited supplies of compounds that can be used below 20 degrees, but preparing the proper concentrations and the equipment for spreading them adds another layer of complexity, and supplies are generally reserved for even lower temperatures.One VDOT official said the state has limited supplies of compounds that can be used below 20 degrees, but preparing the proper concentrations and the equipment for spreading them adds another layer of complexity, and supplies are generally reserved for even lower temperatures.
In any case, weather data shows the air temperature Wednesday did not dip below 20 degrees in much of Northern Virginia, meaning the pavement temperature was likely higher.In any case, weather data shows the air temperature Wednesday did not dip below 20 degrees in much of Northern Virginia, meaning the pavement temperature was likely higher.
“I’m not trying to suggest in any way it was an acceptable situation,” Layne said. “The ultimate buck stops with me.”“I’m not trying to suggest in any way it was an acceptable situation,” Layne said. “The ultimate buck stops with me.”
He said he could have asked more questions and overridden Northern Virginia VDOT officials, and that there will be a review after this weekend’s bigger storm. But as he learned more Thursday, “I’m even more convinced it was probably the right call” to eschew brine.He said he could have asked more questions and overridden Northern Virginia VDOT officials, and that there will be a review after this weekend’s bigger storm. But as he learned more Thursday, “I’m even more convinced it was probably the right call” to eschew brine.
“I’m very proud of how we’ve responded in the last couple years,” Layne said.“I’m very proud of how we’ve responded in the last couple years,” Layne said.
And for the blizzard?And for the blizzard?
“We’re deploying all the assets in the Commonwealth to what’s coming.” “We’re deploying all the assets in the commonwealth to what’s coming.”
Luz Lazo contributed to this report.Luz Lazo contributed to this report.