DC Mayor Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Monster Blizzard

PHOTO: DC Mayor Muriel Bowser/official photo

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WASHINGTON, DC-- DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a State of Emergency for the District of Columbia ahead of a monster blizzard expected to hit the nation’s capital this weekend.

“I have lived in Washington, DC my whole life and I don’t know that I have lived through a forecast like this,” the mayor said in a news conference Thursday morning, which was aired live by several news stations.

She apologized to DC residents and visitors for the poor condition of the icy roads Wednesday night in Washington, DC.

DC will coordinate their emergency management storm response from Homeland Security, she said, starting at 6 a.m. Friday. “Essential personnel will gather to coordinate our response to the storm,” she said.

“Today I am declaring a State of Emergency and Snow Emergency beginning Friday morning after morning rush hour,” she said. Declaring the state of emergency “gives us the abiity to move any vehicles in a snow emergency route. We’re asking residents not to park in those snow emergency routes,” she said and suggested not parking along those routes as early as Thursday night.

The mayor said she and others were briefed by the National Weather Service Thursdasy morning. “The weather service is currently forecasting blizzard conditions, bringing up to 20 inches of snow over the weekend,” she said. “We anticipate the storm will start at around 4 p.m. and into Saturday night. We can expect high winds of up to 40 miles per hour.” The mayor said the storm should see snow fall and winds blow for 36 hours.

DC will have in its arsenal:

• 106 heavy plows
• 37 contract
• 145 dump trucks
• 20 bob cats
• 39 tons of salt

The DC government is coordinating its snow response with the National Guard and FEMA, the mayor said.

Schools are already scheduled to dismiss Friday at 12:15 p.m., but DC decided Thursday to close all public schools Friday.

Non-essential DC government personnel will go home at 12 noon, she said.

The mayor said that warming centers will be open in each section of the city. “We are especially concerned about disabled and elderly residents,” she said. ”if you know someone or see someone who needs shelter, we will continue we want you to call 311 for help.”