Mayor Asks Residents to Help Neighbors with Shoveling Snow

WASHINGTON, DC -- DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said late Saturday afternoon that DC has seen about 20 inches of snow since it began falling Friday at 1 p.m., with upper Northwest DC hit the hardest.

“In the last two hours, we have seen snow pick up as well as winds pick up,” she said at a 5 p.m. news conference. “We know it is very rough outside and in some areas, there are reports of white-out conditions. Visibility is very poor.”

“The snow will be heavy for the next few hours with the highest wind gusts expected tonight,” she said. Forecasts show the storm will wrap up late tonight or early Sunday, she noted.

• Stay off the roads: The mayor continued her mantra that the City wants people and their vehicles off the roads. “Today we have encountered people walking down the middle of the streets. We can’t emphasize enough for people to stay off the streets for their safety and our first responders.”

As the snow begins to stop falling late Saturday and early Sunday, the City will shift into another phase of operations. The City will assess the amount of snow that needs to be picked up and hauled away, but will also have to wait for winds to subside.

• Monday school announcement: Expect an announcement by Sunday late afternoon/early evening, about whether school will be held Monday, the Mayor said.
• Shoveling: The District has received the most calls from people needing help with shoveling, outpacing the number of volunteers the City has organized to help out; the Mayor asked residents to please help their neighbors if possible.
• No saving digged-out parking spaces: No matter how long it took you to dig out your car, if you are parked on the street, you cannot save the space, said Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

“We ask people to try to be as considerate of their neighbors as possible,” she said at the news conference. “Sometimes disputes come up over saving spaces, but no one really owns that space. Don’t try to save your space, no one has that right. As tempting as it is once you dig out, once you pull out, that space can be taken by someone else.”

The Mayor will hold another briefing on Sunday at 10 a.m.

PHOTO: Shoveling snow photo/Shutterstock