Mayor Jim Kenney and City officials provided an update this morning on the Snow Emergency response and recovery operations from the City’s Emergency Operations Center. Mayor Kenney thanked Philadelphians for heeding warnings to stay indoors and off city roadways. He noted that the City will be open for business tomorrow, but as this is the 4th largest snowstorm in history, plowing and salting operations are extensive and take time. The Mayor thanked the hundreds of City workers working around the clock to help the City recover from the storm. The Mayor reminds Philadelphians not to throw snow backed into cleared streets and to look in on their neighbors who may need help due to the storm and extreme cold.

Snow Emergency Routes

The Snow Emergency is still in effect in Philadelphia, and officials caution Philadelphians to stay off roads as crews continue snowplowing operations. More than 400 plow and 600 employees from multiple agencies are supporting snow plowing and salting operations. Road clearing remains a challenge due to the rate of the snowfall during the storm. During the Snow Emergency, vehicle owners should not park vehicles on Snow Emergency Routes, even if crews plowed these routes already. Approximately 158 vehicles have been towed from these routes. If your vehicle was towed, call 215-686-SNOW. Do not call 911.

Philly 311

Managing Director Mike DiBerardinis indicated the Police and Fire 911 centers are getting non-emergency calls, which are hampering the dispatchers’ ability to focus on immediate life-threatening emergencies. He emphasized that Philly 311 is open today until midnight and strongly encourages the public to call Philly 311 for all non-emergency calls and for updates regarding snowplowing and salting operations.

Shoveling Snow

Property owners are required to clear a three (3) foot path in front of their property, including curb cuts, within six (6) hours of the end of the storm. Residents should not shovel or toss snow onto city streets. It is against the law to do this. In addition, drivers should not park vehicles too close to corners, as snow plowing and salting equipment need extra room to turn safely at corners. Parking too close to a corner will hinder efficient snow removal from streets.

Fire Hydrants and Storm Drains

City officials ask residents to clear snow and ice from fire hydrants so that firefighters can hook up hoses quickly in the event of a fire. In addition, please clear snow and ice away from storm drains on your block to allow melting snow to flow directly down the drains. This will help to prevent icy road conditions. With the weather outlook of temperatures in the 40’s in the days following the storm, clearing snow and ice away from the drains is even more important as conditions will be higher for flooding when large amounts of snow melt quickly.

Transportation Updates

SEPTA’s Market Frankford and Broad Street Lines will continue to run as scheduled. Bus routes in the city are being restored route-by-route with emphasis on 11 priority routes that feed that Market Frankford and Broad Street lines. Nine of these priority routes are already up and running. Trolley service in the city has been restored fully with delays. All regional rail lines remain suspended, except for the Airport High Speed Line from Temple to the airport. Riders should check with SEPTA at www.septa.org for updates. CCT service is running today for dialysis patients only. CCT will be provided on Monday for dialysis patients, medical appointments, and essential work functions.

Philadelphia International Airport reports its runways are clear, and airlines are resuming operations gradually today. American Airlines will start up at 3:00 p.m. with 50 percent of its remaining flights. Travelers are encouraged to check online with individual airlines or www.PHL.org for status updates.

PennDOT continues plowing and salting operations, and the commercial vehicle restriction remains in effect for state interstates. A 45 mile per hour speed limit remains in effect on interstate roads.

The Delaware River Port Authority reports that the speed restriction for the Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin bridges is 25 mph, and speed restriction for the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges is 35 mph.

Emergency Operations  Center

The City’s EOC has scaled back to a limited activation as of 8:00 a.m. this morning, and continues to provide operational coordination and support emergency response. The EOC is the city’s central facility where interagency problem solving and information sharing are coordinated among various agencies during emergencies. Representatives from the following agencies are currently assigned to the EOC:

  • Philadelphia Fire and EMS
  • Police – Radio and Traffic
  • SEPTA
  • Streets: Sanitation and Transportation
  • Philadelphia Parking Authority
  • Philly 311
  • Fleet
  • Office of Emergency Management

Emergency Management Director Samantha Phillips reported that priorities for today are public safety and snow removal. The biggest challenge has been vehicles navigating through the city, particularly medic units and fire apparatus. Agencies in the EOC worked to implement a successful solution with Philadelphia Police. Phillips stated there were very few reported downed trees and power outages.

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has measured 39.8 inches (due to snowdrifts) outside of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) since the start of the storm. OEM submits measurements to the National Weather Service. Philadelphia International Airport measured 22.4 inches which is the official storm total accumulation.

Weather Update

The National Weather Service cancelled the Blizzard Warning shortly after midnight. Today, sunny and dryer weather is expected with high temperatures in the lower to freezing range, which may lead to snowmelt and ponding of water. This water will re-freeze tonight when temperatures fall into the teens region-wide. Untreated roadways and walkways, particularly bridges and overpasses, will become slippery, which may affect the Monday morning commute.

Stay informed:

  • Tune to local news for weather updates.
  • Sign up for emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia at www.phila.gov/ready.
  • For more winter weather tips, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management online at www.phila.gov/ready.
  • For official updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on Twitter or find them on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Blogspot.
  • Other City Twitter accounts to follow for information: @PhiladelphiaGov; @Philly311; @PhilaStreets; @PhillyPolice; and @PhillyFireDept.