State of Emergency and Snow Emergency Called for North Reading

From the North Reading Police Department:

North Reading Public Safety and other town officials are actively monitoring the upcoming storm and have initiated preparedness activities. There are several important messages that we would like to share with the public:

A declared state of emergency and snow emergency will go into effect at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26 and will remain in effect until further notice.

Residents are reminded that the winter parking ban will be in effect for the duration of the storm. Please remove all vehicles from public rights-of-way to allow for snow removal operations.

Curbside trash and recycling collection will be postponed one day this week. The Tuesday collection will take place on Wednesday.

Town of North Reading Non-Emergency Services, including the Town Hall, Senior Center, and Flint Memorial Library, will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

If necessary, town officials are prepared to open a shelter at the Batchelder School. In the event that you need to leave your home, please be prepared to bring any medications that you might need.

If you have a fire hydrant in front of or close to your home or business, if it’s safe and you are able to do so, please take a few minutes to clear the snow away from it. We would also like to remind residents that blowing snow can block heating, appliance and generator vents. Keeping all intake and exhaust vents clear of snow and ice is an important safety precaution to prevent buildup of carbon monoxide inside homes.

Property owners are also asked to assist in removing snow from storm drains/catch basins when it is safe to do so. Non-residential property owners are reminded to comply with the Town’s sidewalk snow removal bylaw.

All town meetings and activities for tonight, Monday, Jan. 26 and tomorrow, Jan. 27 have been postponed.

Any further updates will be communicated through CodeRed, the North Reading Police Department website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.