Annapolis In State of Emergency As Blizzard Hits

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ANNAPOLIS, MD — With the region now under a blizzard warning and a forecast of up to two feet of snow, Mayor Michael Pantelides has declared a state of emergency in Annapolis and county warming shelters are open.

The declaration went into effect at 7 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, ahead of the storm.

During the Annapolis State of Emergency the mayor’s authority includes:

• Appointing an incident commander
• Declaring a curfew
• Directing the Harbormaster to limit access to city waters

MORE ON PATCH:

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• Hour By Hour Snow Timeline for Annapolis
• Anne Arundel Schools Make Decision on Friday Schedule
• Maryland Power Companies Prepare for Snowstorm
• MARC Trains Reduce Service as Blizzard Nears
• BWI: ‘Flights Are Expected to Be Impacted’ by Snowstorm
• Maryland Blizzard Latest: Prep Tips, Timeline, Accumulation
• How to Prepare Your Car for Snowstorm
• How to Prevent Your Pipes From Freezing As Temps Drop
• ‘Stay Off The Highways’ This Weekend: MD State Police

The mayor also declared a Level 2 Snow Emergency in Annapolis, making it mandatory for all vehicles along the emergency route be removed by 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22 to avoid towing and impound.

• Noah Hillman Parking Garage – 150 Gorman Street
• Gotts Court Parking Garage – 25 Northwest Street
• Knighton Parking Garage – 1A Colonial Avenue
• Park Place - 5 Park Place

If your street is posted as an Emergency Snow Route, vehicles must be moved off the roadway when a Level 2 or 3 emergency is declared. If you have no off-street parking available, park at one of the city-owned garages.

Meanwhile, refuse and recycling will have regular collection on Friday, Jan. 22, and Annapolis Transit will operate on a regular schedule on Friday. The Transit schedule is subject to change as the evening progresses and weather conditions deteriorate.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. The National Weather Service is calling for deteriorating conditions Friday afternoon with the heaviest snow and gusty winds expected Friday night through Saturday night.

Power Outage Reports

Any power outages should be reported to BGE at 1-877-778-2222. Please use caution when operating generators. Generators should be operated outdoors in an area with ample ventilation.

Emergency Levels and Parking
• Storm Phase/Level II (5” to 8” snow) - Vehicular parking is banned on emergency snow routes; in advance of a snow emergency, residents will be told to move their vehicles off Snow Emergency Routes to avoid towing and impound.
• Storm Phase/Level III (9” to 14” of snow) - All vehicles will be prohibited from operating on any street within the corporate limits of Annapolis except snow equipment, emergency vehicles or others authorized by the mayor.

City Monitoring During Storm

The Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the winter storm and will activate on Friday evening, remaining operational throughout the storm and its recovery efforts. The Annapolis Call Center will open at 3 p.m. on Friday for all non-emergency calls about city operations and/or the anticipated inclement weather. The Annapolis Call Center number is 410-260-2211. Call 911 in an emergency.

County Opens Warming Shelters

In addition to the snow, Annapolis is expecting frigid temperatures in the 20s with wind chills in the teens. The City of Annapolis has designated warming shelters to provide refuge for residents who need the service during nights of severe cold. Contact the Annapolis Call Center for overnight accommodation referrals.

Anne Arundel County will open warming centers at 5 p.m. Thursday and they should remain open until 7 a.m. Monday.

The Anne Arundel County Police will make the Community Rooms available to provide warming relief at the following district stations.

• Northern District, 939 Hammonds Lane, Baltimore
• Eastern District, 204 Pasadena Road, Pasadena (new location)
• Western District, 8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton
• Southern District, 35 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater

Snow Shoveling

Once the snow begins, city code requires the property owner to clear the public sidewalk of snow and ice within three hours after the snow or sleet has stopped falling, except when the snow or sleet stopped falling between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. Then the snow/ice must be removed from the walk before 11 a.m.

Residents who fail to shovel their sidewalks face a $25 fine. Also, uncover and clear areas around fire hydrants and storm drain inlets. While it helps identify hydrants for firefighters, it can also help you guard against flooding. If the snow melts and can’t flow away, it could cause street icing and basement flooding.

Check www.annapolis.gov frequently for updated information. You can also call the Office of Emergency Management during business hours at 410-216-9167.