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With storm blowing in, the region gets ready With storm blowing in, the region gets ready
(about 7 hours later)
Snow plows are at the ready, salt trucks are poised, school superintendents are worried weather watchers, states of emergency have been declared, the populace is braced, and the obligatory trio — bread, milk and toilet paper — have been swept from market shelves. A winter storm that swept across a part of the country where people typically go to escape winter shut down the Deep South on Wednesday, then moved north to wallop the Washington region.
None of those pre-storm cliches about winter weather needed dusting off this time around as Washington and its environs prepared for what threatens to be the worst storm of a long season of cold and snow. The ice and powerful wind gusts that robbed 350,000 homes and businesses of power in Louisiana, Georgia and South Carolina were headed here. Some forecasters were predicting “potentially catastrophic” conditions in parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.
Though the forecast of five to 10 inches, plus the usual dose of sleet and freezing rain, would draw snorts of laughter from those who live not so terribly far to the north — Philadelphia and New York have been snowbound this year — Washington battened down for weather paralysis. Although the storm lead to the cancellation of more than 3,100 flights Wednesday, many of them connections through the nation’s busiest airport, in Atlanta, it had not caused the widespread panic seen there two weeks ago when a storm caught it unprepared.
The Post’s Capital Weather Gang forecast that at least three to six inches of snow would fall overnight. By Thursday morning, it would turn to sleet and freezing rain. Later Thursday, it would revert to snow to the north and west of the District. While the gang said the immediate area around Washington was likely to see five to 10 inches, the total would be higher to the west and not as significant to the east. This time, Atlanta was ready. And, with plenty of warning, Washington and its surroundings appeared to be, too.
The declarations of snow emergencies were more than show: They meant that vehicles normally parked on designated snow emergency routes have to be moved elsewhere to clear the way for plows. Late Wednesday, snowplows were at the ready, salt trucks were poised, states of emergency had been declared, the populace was braced and the obligatory trio — bread, milk and toilet paper — had been swept from market shelves.
“If the forecast holds, this will be our first chance this season to tackle a heavy snowfall,” said William O. Howland Jr., director of the District’s Department of Public Works. “We are ready, our equipment is ready, and we have plenty of salt. Of course, if enough snow accumulates, we will plow the streets.” None of those pre-storm cliches about winter weather needed dusting off this time as the Washington region prepared for what threatened to be the worst storm of a long season of cold and snow.
Howland said a snow emergency would be declared late Wednesday, and those who parked on those routes Although the forecast of five to 10 inches of snow, plus sleet and freezing rain, would draw snorts of laughter from those who live not so terribly far to the north — Philadelphia and New York have been snowbound this year — Washington battened down for weather paralysis.
would be towed and face a $250 fine, plus towing fees. Some school officials decided Wednesday that the threat was too great to allow their yellow buses out of the barn Thursday. Schools in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties announced they would close for the day, delighting many schoolchildren and causing worry among parents and administrators that the school year would have to be extended deep into June.
The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang forecast that at least three to six inches of snow would be on the ground in some places by early Thursday. Then it would turn to sleet and freezing rain for a while. Later Thursday, the meteorologists said, it would revert to snow to the north and west of the District. While the gang said the immediate area around Washington was likely to see five to 10 inches, the total would be higher to the west and not as significant to the east.
The declarations of snow emergencies were more than show: They mean that vehicles parked on designated snow emergency routes have to be moved to clear the way for plows.
“We are ready, our equipment is ready, and we have plenty of salt,” said William O. Howland Jr., director of the District’s Department of Public Works. “Of course, if enough snow accumulates, we will plow the streets.”
Howland said that under the snow emergency, which was scheduled to go into effect at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, vehicles parked on those routes would be towed and their owners would face a $250 fine, plus towing fees.
“We’re going to impound every snow emergency vehicle,” he said.“We’re going to impound every snow emergency vehicle,” he said.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) also declared snow emergencies that prohibit cars from parking on designated emergency routes. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) also declared snow emergencies that prohibit cars from parking on designated emergency routes.
“There’s a big swath of nasty snow and ice that’s moving up the East Coast,” O’Malley said during an early afternoon news conference. “It’s a big storm, and it has the potential to do a lot of damage.” “There’s a big swath of nasty snow and ice that’s moving up the East Coast,” O’Malley said during an early afternoon news conference Wednesday. “It’s a big storm, and it has the potential to do a lot of damage.”
The prospect of significant snow followed by ice and rain put power lines at risk.The prospect of significant snow followed by ice and rain put power lines at risk.
Pepco, which serves the District and much of the Maryland suburbs, said it had about 600 linemen ready to react.Pepco, which serves the District and much of the Maryland suburbs, said it had about 600 linemen ready to react.
“Outages can also occur due to drivers skidding into utility poles along icy and snow-covered roads,” the utility pointed out in a statement. “Snow and ice may considerably slow crew efforts to reach substations and outage areas to make repairs. Icy roads make travel impossible, so crews cannot start repair work until roads become safely passable. “Outages can also occur due to drivers skidding into utility poles along icy and snow-covered roads,” the utility said. “Snow and ice may considerably slow crew efforts to reach substations and outage areas to make repairs. Icy roads make travel impossible, so crews cannot start repair work until roads become safely passable.
The District and state agencies in Maryland and Virginia said they had plenty of salt on hand, despite a winter that has consumed thousands of tons of it. Virginia Dominion Power warned customers to be prepared for prolonged power outages should ice or wet, heavy snow down lines. The utility said it was working through the Southeastern Electric Exchange to make sure additional resources were available. About 700 non-Dominion line crews from states as far away as Michigan, Louisiana and Oklahoma were scheduled to be in the region through Friday, according to the Dominion Web site.
Maryland has used about 319,000 tons of salt so far this winter and has more than 240,000 tons still available. The District and state agencies in Maryland and Virginia said they had plenty of salt on hand despite a winter that has consumed thousands of tons of it.
“We are moving some salt within our districts in preparation of this storm,” said Valerie Burnette Edgar of Maryland’s State Highway Administration. “Higher snow accumulations require more plowing, less salting. The sleet, freezing rain, ice storms obviously require more salt use.” Maryland has used about 319,000 tons of salt and has more than 240,000 tons available.
“We are moving some salt within our districts in preparation of this storm,” said Valerie Burnette Edgar of the Maryland State Highway Administration. “Higher snow accumulations require more plowing, less salting. The sleet, freezing rain, ice storms obviously require more salt use.”
Virginia’s Department of Transportation has used about 157,000 tons in the northern counties adjacent to the District and has 65,000 tons on hand.Virginia’s Department of Transportation has used about 157,000 tons in the northern counties adjacent to the District and has 65,000 tons on hand.
“We are in very good shape,” said Joan Morris of VDOT. “We can’t project how much salt we will use for this storm.” “We are in very good shape,” said agency spokeswoman Joan Morris. “We can’t project how much salt we will use for this storm.”
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has spent $13 million in snow removal, of which $3 million was spent on salt, spokeswoman Esther Bowring said. Morris said the agency’s storm budget for Northern Virginia is $63 million.
“Last year the snow budget was sufficient to cover all snow- and ice-related costs,” she said. “However, this year has been very active, with numerous snow and ice events coupled with subfreezing temperatures. This has required road crews to treat major roads and neighborhood streets multiple times for many of the events.” “We already spent $83 million,” she said, “and this could easily be a $30 million storm. . . . We will be well over $100 million after the storm.”
She said that in years like this, when the snow budget is exceeded, the agency requests a supplemental to its budget to cover the excess cost. The Montgomery Department of Transportation has spent $13 million on snow removal, of which $3 million was spent on salt, spokeswoman Esther Bowring said.
In Prince George’s, where $2.8 million was allocated for snow removal, so far the county has spent $7.4 million, officials said. “Last year, the snow budget was sufficient to cover all snow- and ice-related costs,” she said. “However, this year has been very active, with numerous snow and ice events coupled with subfreezing temperatures. This has required road crews to treat major roads and neighborhood streets multiple times for many of the events.”
In Charles County, $1.1 million has been spent through the most recent snowfall last week, far exceeding the $782,100 that was approved for this year’s snow-removal efforts. She said that in years such as this, the agency requests supplemental funds to cover the excess cost.
Steve Staples, chief of the road division in Charles County, said preparing for the ninth storm this year requires slowing down other services, from trimming trees to cleaning ditches. And local agencies have to make sure to get enough salt, as demand across the region can slow down deliveries. In Prince George’s, where $2.8 million was allocated for snow removal this year, the county has spent $7.4 million, officials said.
“It has definitely been busier than other years,” said Staples. “We are on storm number nine. In years past, we have had two or three storms.” Charles is preparing for four to 10 inches of snow Wednesday night. In Southern Maryland’s Charles County, $1.1 million had been spent through the most recent snowfall last week, far exceeding the $782,100 that was approved for this year’s snow-removal efforts.
“We are hoping for rain,” said Staples. Steve Staples, chief of the road division in Charles, said that preparing for the ninth storm this year requires slowing down other services, including trimming trees and cleaning ditches. And agencies have to make sure to get enough salt because demand across the region can slow down deliveries.
But if it’s snow, officials say they will be ready to continue to fund road maintenance. The county has funds from surpluses accumulated from less snowy years, said David Eicholtz, director of fiscal and administrative services in Charles County. Those funds are proving to be useful now as more storms are predicted for the region. “It has definitely been busier than other years,” Staples said. “We are on storm number nine. In years past, we have had two or three storms.” Charles is preparing for four to 10 inches of snow Wednesday night.
“Geez, the weather is hard to predict. We have had some years when we have to spend a lot and some years we haven’t had any costs. We are at the mercy of the weather,” Eicholtz said. “We are taking it as it goes. There is nothing we can do.” “We are hoping for rain,” he said.
The winter weather caused yet another round of problems for fliers, with thousands of flights canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware, a Houston-based flight tracking company. In Richmond, the House and Senate sent its teenage pages home for the weekend, fearing that by the end of the week, parents wouldn’t be able to travel to pick them up.
As an ice storm battered Atlanta and other parts of the South, the biggest air travel issues cropped up in that region. More than half of the flights canceled Wednesday were going to or from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, with more than 1,600 flights nixed at that key hub. An additional 700 flights were also canceled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. “Some of them live in southwest Virginia, and we just wanted to be sure they got home safely,” said Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar. But legislators in the General Assembly, which has called only one snow day in the past 40 years, expected to work whatever the weather.
Dozens of cancellations were also reported at airports from Philadelphia to Houston and from Chicago to Dallas. “We’re planning to go ahead,” Schaar said.
More than 300 flights were canceled at the three airports in the Washington region, half of them at Reagan National Airport. Lori Aratani, Mark Berman, Mike DeBonis, Donna St. George, Laura Vozzella, Ovetta Wiggins and John Wagner contributed to this report.
These cancellations are continuing a bitter trend so far this year. In just six weeks, there have been more than 52,000 flights canceled, according to FlightAware. There were nearly 40,000 cancellations in January alone, nearly as many cancellations as there had been in the five previous months combined.
The biggest problems were felt at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, which had more than 5,000 cancellations last month.
Lori Aratani, Mark Berman, Mike DeBonis, Ovetta Wiggins and John Wagner contributed to this report.
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