Pittsburgh Mayor Declares State Of Emergency

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor declared a state of emergency in the city Monday morning after a weekend snowstorm pummeled the region with the most significant one-day accumulation in nearly 16 years.

While many main roads have been plowed after the 11.2-inch snowfall, many secondary streets still are snow covered. Additionally, 37 trucks in the city's aging public works department fleet became inoperable during Sunday night's shift; the city began the storm with 95 trucks in service.

The emergency declaration will enable the city to bring in outside contractors to help clear the streets.

“ You will be seeing private contractors out in your neighborhoods over the next couple of hours,” he said at a news conference. “It's nothing that the workers weren't doing. They were doing their very best, but with 37 trucks down, we have no choice but to do this."

O'Connor did not indicate how many outside contractors would be brought in or how long it would take to clear the secondary streets.

“Safety’s a priority,” O’Connor said. “That’s the reason we’re doing this. This is about the safety of the residents of the city of Pittsburgh.”

O'Connor said motorists who must drive should stay on the main roads.

“We know people have to get to work,” he said. “If you have to drive somewhere, please use the main roads. We have cleared them throughout the night."

City garbage and recycling pickup will be delayed again on Tuesday. The city's warming center's will remain open as an extended period of frigid weather is about to grip the region.