Greetings!
Moon Township's salt bin is full, its winter road maintenance plan is in place and Public Works crews are primed for winter weather and the maintenance and safety considerations that accompany the season.
This special edition of Moon Township Monthly provides a comprehensive resident's guide to get familiar with the Township's snow removal procedures and to prepare for a safe winter. Read on for information about winter road maintenance, emergency communications and more.
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Stay Linked-in to Winter Weather Updates
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By Phone
- SwiftReach 911 - Register both land line and cell phone numbers to receive emergency notifications - including winter storm emergencies - from the Township. Sign up here. Important: Phone lines often are damaged during extreme weather and other emergencies, so please consider registering a cell phone or other alternative number in addition to your home phone.
- For non-emergency questions related to snow removal and winter maintenance, please call the Moon Township Office at 412-262-1700.
- Call 511 for PennDOT road condition updates.
On TV
- Visit the Moon Township website for announcements, cancellations and updates.
- Check PennDOT road condition updates for interstates and some limited-access highways by visiting www.511pa.com.
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Snow Removal and Winter Maintenance
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 Throughout the winter, the Moon Township Public Works Department maintains more than 300 miles of roadways in Moon Township. Crews are on-call 24 hours a day to respond to snowfall, icy road conditions and winter storm emergencies.
The Department is prepared to mobilize 11 trucks equipped with spreaders and plows to clear roadways on snow removal routes throughout the township. Three additional trucks stand ready on back-up. Check out the following guide to Moon Township's winter maintenance operations:
Two-Inch Rule
The amount of snowfall determines the type of road maintenance. For snowfall below two inches, Moon Township Public Works crews treat roads with salt or anti-skid material. Snow plowing operations kick in for snowfall greater than two inches.
Who's Driving that Plow? Find out who maintains your street The Moon Township Public Works Department takes care of snow removal and winter maintenance for all township-owned roads and select state and county roads. Click here for a list of list of roadways that are not maintained by the Township.
Clear the Way for Snow Removal Crews
The Public Works Department appreciates the patience and cooperation of residents as they work to keep roads passable amid unpredictable weather conditions. Please remember the following regulations this winter:
- Please do not park vehicles on Township roads from 2 to 6 a.m. seven days a week to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles and snow plows. Residents are asked not to park on the street at any time during a snow event.
- Do not shovel snow into the street from driveways, parking lots or sidewalks. This violates both state law and township ordinance.
- Please clear snow from fire hydrants to assist public safety professionals.
- Please remove portable basketball hoops, hockey nets and any other obstructions from public roadways, cul-de-sacs and Township right-of-ways to avoid interfering with winter road maintenance.
- Trim trees to keep branches from extending beyond the curb.
Snow Plow Safety
- Remember that is extremely difficult for snowplow drivers to see children in the street.
- Never allow children to build snow forts or play on or near the street, and especially not in the mounds left by snowplows.
- When driving behind a plow truck, maintain a safe distance to minimize the risk of loose material kicking back on your vehicle and allowing enough time to come to a safe stop if necessary.
- According to PennDOT, there is never a "safe" time to pass a snowplow in your car. If you do decide to pass, however, use extreme caution. Remember that every truck has blind spots.
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Snow Plow FAQs
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Q: Why did a truck plow my driveway shut?
A: Plowing crews try their best to leave driveways clear, but this isn't always possible after a heavy snowfall. Plows push snow to the side of the street as they move down the roadway, so if the plow passes your home after you shovel your driveway, the snow could end up in front of it.
Easy Fix: Minimize this effect by shoveling snow to the right side of the driveway when facing the road. This reduces the chance of having the snow pushed back in front of the driveway.
Q: What happens if my mailbox is knocked down?
A: Township road crews do everything they can to avoid damaging property, but in the event of damage the Public Works Department follows these policies:
Mailbox Damage: Because mailboxes are placed in the Township's legal right-of-way, Moon Township isn't liable for damage caused by the force of plowed snow. Moon Township will, however, repair or replace U.S. Postal-approved mailboxes, which are actually struck by a plow blade or by the truck itself. Call the Moon Township Municipal Building to report individual cases, and a Public Works employee will assess the damage.
Yard Damage: During plowing operations, crews set out to clear roadways from curb to curb, or mailbox to mailbox. As the plow drivers push snow onto grassy areas behind the curb, there is occasional yard damage in these areas. Residents are asked to report yard damage to the Municipal Building, and the Public Works Department will coordinate repairs. |
Emergency Shelter Information
|  During emergency situations, such as last year's extreme snowstorms, the Township operates an emergency shelter to provide short-term respite for residents. Moon Township's emergency sheltering location is the Public Safety Building, which houses the police and fire departments and is equipped with a back-up generator in case of power outages.
Where is it? Moon Township Public Safety Building, 1000 Beaver Grade Road
How do I know if a shelter is in operation? Residents should check for emergency sheltering announcements at www.moontwp.com and in local news reports. Or, residents can call the Moon Township Police Department at 412-262-5000. In the event of a township-wide emergency, the Police Department will issue a message through the SwiftReach emergency notification system.
Important: Please remember that phone and power line damage often occurs during many emergencies, including severe winter weather. The Police Department encourages residents to register a cell phone or other alternative phone number in addition to home phone numbers.
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Safety Tips from the Township Fire Marshal
|  As both Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator, Charlie Belgie is Moon Township's resident expert on fire prevention and emergency preparedness. Click the links below to find more information on Fire Marshal Belgie's top five winter safety precautions:
Candle Safety
Carbon Monoxide Awareness
Cooking Safety
Heating Safety
Home Emergency kit
Fire Marshal Belgie encourages residents with questions about fire prevention or home emergency plans to give him a call at 412-262-5004.
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Know the law when the snow starts to fall
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 Keep a snow scraper on hand. According to Pennsylvania law, drivers can be ticketed if they don't remove snow and ice from their vehicle. Fines range from about $25 for failing to clear windows to $200 to $1,000 if snow or ice falls from a moving vehicle and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian, which can cause death or serious injury.
If you turn on your wipers, turn on your lights. State law requires that headlights are turned on whenever windshield wipers are in use.
Abandoned cars on roadways may be towed under Pennsylvania law and also impede snow removal.
Shoveling snow onto public roads is illegal. Shovel snow away from the roadway and don't pile snow in areas that could block a driver's view of the roadway and oncoming vehicles.
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Snow Shoveling Tips & Reminders
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- Wear warm, loose-fitting clothing in several layers to protect against frostbite and hypothermia.
- Consider your physical condition and weather factors before beginning a strenuous shoveling effort.
- Check on neighbors and family members, especially the elderly and people with disabilities, who may need assistance.
- Never shovel snow from driveways and sidewalks into the street.
- Clear snow from the sidewalk in front of your home to keep paths safe and passable for pedestrians, including children walking to the bus stop.
- Clear snow away from fire hydrants to make it easier for the fire department to locate the hydrant in case of emergency.
- Clear the catch basin in front of your home or business to allow proper drainage. Snow and ice build-up can block catch basins and lead to a risk of flooding.
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Pot Hole Patrol
| Throughout the winter, Public Works crews regularly monitor township roads for potholes and make repairs as they go. To report a pothole on a township roadway, call the Moon Township Public Works Garage at 412-264-3035.
Moon Township Public Works does not patch potholes on private, county or state roads. Although the Township contracts to perform winter maintenance services for select state and county roads, pothole repairs remain a regular maintenance duty handled by the county or state throughout the winter.
Moon Township does not handle pothole repairs for the following roadways:
Private Roads
Review the list of privately-maintained roadways in Moon Township here.
Allegheny County Roads
Contact the Allegheny County Public Works Department to report potholes on the following county-owned roads in Moon Township:
- Spring Run Road
- Spring Run Road Ext.
State Roads
Contact PennDOT District 11 to report potholes on state-owned roads, or call PennDOT's road maintenance hot line at 1-800-FIX-ROAD.
- Brodhead Road
- Beaver Grade Road
- Coraopolis Heights Road/Hassam Road
- Ewing Road
- Flaugherty Run Road
- I-376 Business Loop
- Maple Street Ext.
- McGovern Boulevard
- Montour Run Road
- Montour Street Extension
- Moon Clinton Road
- Musmanno Boulevard
- Route 51
- Thorn Run Road
- University Boulevard
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| Winter Roof Safety for Your Home | After a heavy snowfall - such as last year's February snow storms - it's important to inspect your roof or deck for any potential structural hazards caused by ice or snow build-up. In addition to property loss, roof damage can lead to a sudden roof collapse and potential injuries or fatalities.
Roof and deck failures, however, rarely occur without some warning signs, including the following:
- Ripples, bends or cracks in any of the structure's supporting beams (steel supports, metal purlins, wooden members)
- Cracks in walls or ceilings
- Loud popping or cracking sounds from the building structure
- Pooling of water on the roof in areas where it previously never accumulated
- Obvious deformities in structure frame or shape
Residents should contact an experienced contractor or their homeowner insurance company if they experience any of these problems or for more information.
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