BOSTON – Monday, January 26, 2015 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced today that due to the approaching blizzard a snow emergency will go into effect in the City of Boston on Monday at 6 p.m. and Boston Public Schools will be closed Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28.
Information on the storm will continued to be updated on boston.gov/snow.
“Boston has been through blizzards before and I’m confident we are prepared,” said Mayor Walsh. “But a storm of this size poses a threat to the safety of our residents in many different ways, and we are taking it very seriously. We are implementing our emergency operations system, collaborating closely with the state, private utilities, medical facilities, and homeless shelters, and deploying all available resources across City departments. I urge everyone to do their part: to put safety first; stay off the roads as much as possible; to look out for their neighbors; pay attention to the restrictions, the information, and the warnings we are providing; and allow the City, state, and emergency services to do their work.”
Schools
Due to the forecast and expected clean-up efforts, the Mayor has called for all Boston Public Schools to be closed both Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28. All after-school activities on Monday are canceled.
All Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) will be open from 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday. All are welcome, and children age 7 and older can be dropped off upon completion of a short intake form.
Safety Tips
Shoveling this amount of snow is significant exertion, please be cautious and pay attention to symptoms. Stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheaded, nauseous/vomiting. Call 911 if those symptoms do not resolve quickly when you stop exertion.
Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a concern during winter weather, especially with the use of generators. Residents should be sure to use their home heating systems wisely and safety. Call 911 immediately if you suspect Carbon Monoxide poisoning.
Sitting in a car while idling can be deadly if the tailpipe is blocked. Do not let children sit in an idling car while shoveling. Clear any household exhaust pipes of snow. For example, gas exhaust from heating system or dryer.
Remember to keep catch basins and fire hydrants clear.
Snow piles can make navigating intersections dangerous for walkers and drivers, please take extra care when turning corners with snow piles that might limit visibility.
If you see a person in need of shelter, of it there is an emergency, please call 911.
Please check on neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
For those with questions or concerns, help is available through several channels. The Mayor’s Hot Line (617-635-4500) will be running with extra staff around the clock for the next two days and the City’s social media and mobile technology strategy will be in full effect throughout the storm, including the Citizens Connect app.
Public Works
The Public Works Department (PWD) will begin pre-treating roads early Monday afternoon. Working with contractors, PWD will have nearly 800 pieces of equipment ready and over 35,000 tons of salt.
Trash collection will not take place on Tuesday, and will be delayed by one day. For neighborhoods with twice-weekly collections, the Tuesday collection will be cancelled.
Parking
In order to allow plows to do their job, after 8:00 p.m. cars park on major roadways will be towed.
Minimizing the number of vehicles parked on our streets will allow snowplows to get to the curb and clear the snow. In addition, drivers are asked to park with safety in mind and refrain from parking in any manner that will jeopardize public safety, including, within 20 feet from an intersection, more than a foot from the curb, at handicap ramps, crosswalks and fire hydrants.
The City of Boston is opening its municipal parking lots to neighborhood residents for long-term parking during the storm. In addition, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) has worked with private parking lot and garage owners in Boston to secure 15,500 free or discounted parking spaces for Boston Residents. Residents are asked to please remove vehicles from streets that are posted as “Snow Emergency” Arteries and park them in these alternate off-street locations.
Public Libraries
All Boston Public Libraries to be closed on Tuesday, January 27.
Helping the Homeless
Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will continue to coordinate their city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless during this impending storm. Shelters are kept open during the day for the safety and well being of our clients. Beginning Monday, the site at Southampton Street will also offer daytime hours. Throughout the storm, BPHC will encourage our guests to remain indoors in our shelter network for their safety.
Working with the Pine Street Outreach Team and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, BPHC actively seeks out individuals and helps them find shelter during a cold snap, providing food, clothing, blankets, medical assistance to those in need.
All individuals seeking shelter should go to Central Intake, located at Woods Mullen Shelter – 794 Massachusetts Avenue in the South End at the corner of Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue.
Community Meetings
All community meetings for Tuesday and Wednesday have been canceled.
City Workers
In the City of Boston, only emergency operations personnel will be required to report to work on Tuesday.
