The Rawlings-Blake Review #2: Snow Storm Recovery Efforts

This week, Baltimore experienced an unprecedented snow storm. It was the worst two-day blizzard since 1922. Shortly after that storm left the region, we were hit by a second blizzard that dumped another 19 ½ inches of snow on us. We have never seen anything like this before. Without a doubt, this has been a difficult and inconvenient time for our citizens. As I have said repeatedly this week, the city is not clear until your street is clear.

On Wednesday at 11:28am, after a dire warning from the Weather Service advising "life-threatening" conditions, I ordered PHASE 3 of the City snow emergency plan. Under Phase III, travel was banned on city streets except for emergency vehicles that lasted until 5:00 a.m. Thursday morning. Baltimore had not been in a Phase III emergency since the snowstorm of 1996.

Today, and in the coming days, we are faced with cleaning-up two blizzards worth of snow and ice. Hundreds of trees fell on streets, cars and homes. Streets are blocked with snow and abandoned cars. But, despite all of the challenges presented by this historic snow emergency, this city was safe.

During this crisis, the Baltimore Police and Fire Departments responded to every single 911 call for service. Lives have been saved. Families and property have been protected. Small businesses have been safe and secure.

On Wednesday, the Police Department responded to nearly 1,200 emergency calls. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to 376 calls, and Firefighters were deployed to two dwelling fires. Facing heavy snow and 40 mph wind gusts, these brave men and women worked nonstop to save lives.

Police and firefighters were able to do their job because of the outstanding work by our plow and salt truck drivers. Since Friday, employees from the Departments of Transportation, Public Works and Recreation and Parks drove over 81,000 miles. As of today, we have deployed 28 private contractors with 350 pieces of equipment, including 70 bobcats, 35 front end loaders, 30 backhoes and 145 dump trucks. All are subject to FEMA rates and are supervised by city inspectors. They have bolstered our efforts in clearing our primary roads and gateways, and are now working to clear snow from our secondary roads and side streets.

There are many ways for residents to help our plow truck drivers and contractors as they remove snow from our streets. Do not park along our well marked snow emergency routes. When you are clearing snow from the top of and around your vehicle, do not throw that snow in the street.

All of the city's efforts are being run out of the Transportation Management Center. Our Snow Team, which is made up of representatives from every city agency, as well as Baltimore Gas and Electric, and the Maryland Transit Administration, collaborate to meet the needs of residents during and after the storm. With this team working day and night, we have found solutions to some of our greatest challenges: