In preparation for a major winter snow storm currently forecast to leave up to two feet of snow in Providence, Mayor Angel Taveras has declared a citywide parking ban beginning at 12 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, February 8. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice.
Residents with overnight parking passes are advised that they cannot park on the street during the duration of the citywide parking ban. All vehicles parked on the street in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed.
The Department of Public Works has prepared all equipment and personnel to respond to the storm.
Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Peter T. Gaynor will activate the City's Emergency Operations Center with PEMA staff beginning at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
Residents can stay up to date on the latest storm developments from the City by using the filter #PVDsnow and following the Twitter accounts of Mayor Taveras (http://www.twitter.com/angel_taveras) and PEMA (http://www.twitter.com/pema591).
Snow is forecast to arrive tomorrow morning and increase in intensity during the early afternoon. Whiteout conditions caused by heavy snowfall and wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour are expected to make driving nearly impossible on Friday and Saturday.
Current forecasts call for snow to continue falling until Saturday afternoon. Residents should prepare for side streets not to be cleared until Sunday morning.
Residents are advised that 911 emergency responders may be delayed during the storm.
Residents who experience power outages during the storm should contact National Grid at 800-322-3223. Residents are also warned to never touch downed power lines. It is safer to assume that all fallen lines are live electric wires. Residents are asked to immediately report downed power lines to National Grid or PEMA.
Friday's trash collection will take place earlier in the day than normal. Residents whose trash and recycling are collected on Fridays should bring their bins to the curb tonight to avoid missing the earlier collection tomorrow morning.
CANCELLATIONS
Providence Public Schools and all afterschool activities are canceled on Friday, February 8.
PARKING BAN
A citywide parking ban will be in effect from 12pm tomorrow until further notice. During this storm, cars in violation of the citywide parking ban will be ticketed and towed to ensure that roadways can be plowed. Cars parked in school parking lots overnight will also be ticketed and towed.
TRASH REMOVAL
Friday's trash collection will take place earlier in the day than normal. Residents whose trash and recycling are collected on Fridays should bring their bins to the curb tonight to avoid missing the earlier collection tomorrow morning.
BUSINESSES
City Hall will remain open on Friday, February 8. Managers are encouraged to use their discretion to allow employees to use vacation and personal time.
The City is encouraging businesses to allow employees to work flexible hours on Friday to reduce travel during the height of the storm. Employees that come to work should have plans to be home by noon Friday. All other non-essential employees are encouraged to work from home.
SNOW REMOVAL
Property owners are required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks, catch basins, fire hydrants and pedestrian ramps adjacent to their property within 8 hours after snow stops falling. Residents are asked to take care not to shovel snow onto roadways after streets have been plowed. Fines ranging from $20 to $500 will be imposed on residents not in compliance.
By City Ordinance, businesses and residents must not place snow removed by plowing or shoveling into public roadways and sidewalks. Fines ranging from $20 to $500 will be imposed on residents not in compliance.
Motorists are advised not to double park on streets, and not to park within eight feet of fire hydrants. Blocking fire hydrants and causing any delay of fire, police and other emergency vehicles is a serious public safety hazard.
For fire safety purposes, residents are urged not to rebury fire hydrants after they have been dug out.
For more information about snow removal in Providence, visit http://providenceri.com/snowready.