Somerville Cancels School, Declares Snow Emergency

SOMERVILLE, MA – Thursday is expected to bring unforgiving cold, as well as up to a foot of snow and with blizzard-like conditions to Somerville. Wednesday afternoon, the city declared a snow emergency and canceled school for Thursday, Jan. 4.

Beginning at 8 p.m., cars will have four hours to move to the odd side of the street (unless signs say otherwise) or into a municipal or school parking lot. Residents who park in a school lot must move their cars from the lot within two hours of the end of the snow emergency.

Ticketing and towing will begin Wednesday at midnight for cars that are not moved to the correct side of the street or to an off-street lot.

On Thursday, Jan. 4, Somerville Public Schools, Public Libraries, and all public city offices will be closed, as the city will be operating with emergency personnel only. Trash pickup is still scheduled for Thursday; however, it will begin at 6 a.m. Residents are asked to put trash and recycling curbside Wednesday evening to ensure it is picked up.

See below for more helpful tips on navigating the storm in Somerville:

SEE ALSO: MA Blizzard Forecast: A Winter Hurricane Headed Our Way

Shoveling/Safety Tips

1. Check on neighbors in need before, during, and after the storm. If you have neighbors who are elderly, have a disability, or are otherwise unable to navigate cold and winter weather, please check in and make sure that they are safe, healthy, and have food and resources to weather the storm. In particular, be aware that over the last week as temperatures have been extremely cold, your neighbors in need may not have been able to make it outdoors and to the grocery store or to pick up necessary medications and supplies.

2. Prepare now for a potential blizzard amid record cold. Blizzard conditions are expected. Of course, the forecast is always subject to change, but, in light of the extreme cold, it is best to be prepared. Make sure you have food and water to last several days. Check your heating systems, and make sure to leave the heat set to at least 60 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. It also helps to keep faucets dripping to prevent frozen pipes. Finally, review Somerville’s snow emergency policies in advance at www.somervillema.gov/snow.

3. Prepare to shovel…safely. The City of Somerville requires that sidewalks abutting your property must be shoveled within six daylight hours of the end of any snowfall to ensure safe passage for others. This week, it is predicted that snowfall will be accompanied by extremely cold temperatures, meaning that un-shoveled snow will quickly turn to ice. This will create difficult conditions, but clearing sidewalks is of the utmost importance to prevent hazards to others including our school children. So please make sure you have sufficiently warm clothing and snow clearing supplies now ahead of the storm. When shoveling, please take the following precautions into consideration:

• Shovel in SHORT segments. Do not attempt to shovel everything all at once. Rather, remain outside only for a few minutes at a time.
• When you are outdoors, make sure you are dressed in several layers, including hats, gloves/mittens, and warm socks and a scarf to cover your face. Please avoid leaving any skin, including your face, exposed in extreme cold.

The City of Somerville is looking for local teens to pair with residents in need of shoveling assistance during snow storms. Somerville senior citizens and residents with disabilities may contact the city to be added to the list. Teens and residents in need of assistance will be paired by the City, which has also arranged a payment structure depending on the residents’ needs. However, payment is handled independently between the resident and the teen with whom they are paired.

Applications are available online at www.somervillema.gov/snow or by contacting one of the following staff members:

Teens interested in signing up for shoveling jobs: Chris Hosman, CHosman@somervillema.gov, 617-625-6600 ext. 2406

Seniors and persons with disabilities in need of shoveling assistance: Connie Lorenti, CLorenti@somervillema.gov, 617-625-6600 ext. 2300.

Paper applications for seniors and persons with disabilities are also available at the Council on Aging, 167 Holland Street, and for teens at the City Hall Annex, 50 Evergreen Avenue, and the main office of Somerville High School. All applicants over the age of 18 must submit to a CORI background check to be eligible for the program.

For additional information, visit www.somervillema.gov/snow, or contact Chris Hosman at CHosman@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2406.

4. Below are additional tips and important information to be aware of during extreme cold. If you have non-emergency questions or concerns, you can contact 311 at any time of the day or night, in any of the following ways:

• Call 311 (617-666-3311 from outside of the city)
• Email 311Updates@somervillema.gov
• Visit us on Facebook: fb.com/311Somerville or fb.com/SomervilleCity
• Tweet us @311Somerville or @SomervilleCity

Safety tips:

• Stay dry and change clothing is it gets wet.
• Dress in layers, and cover as much exposed skin as possible.
• Drink warm liquids and water to stay hydrated.
• Avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body.
• Know where your electricity, gas, and water switches and valves are located and how to shut them off. You may need to turn off water pipes if your pipes freeze or burst. If possible, consider having a safe backup like a fireplace, wood stove, or space heater in case your heat goes out.
• Check that your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working and have fresh batteries.
• Make sure your vehicle’s gas tank is at least half full and pack an emergency kit that includes blankets and/or warm clothing.
• Minimize time outside, even for pets.
• Follow all safety precautions if using space heaters and DO NOT use a stove or oven as a heat source.
  • If using an extension cord for a space heater, make sure it is rated for the appliance.
  • Do not use space heaters as a primary heat source.
  • Make sure space heaters are turned off when you go to bed or leave the house.
  • Keep anything that could burn at least three feet from space heaters. Keep in mind that drying Christmas trees can pose a fire hazard and space heaters should not be used near them.
• If your pipes freeze, remove any insulation, pour hot water over them or wrap them with towels soaked in hot water, and completely open all faucets. You can also use a hair dryer, with caution, to thaw pipes. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes. If you cannot locate or resolve a frozen pipe, call a licensed plumber.
• Watch for signs of cold-related health concerns like frostbite and hypothermia and call 911 immediately for any emergencies.

Parking

Snow emergency parking will be allowed on the odd side of the street this year.

City policy dictates that residents may only park on one designated side of the street during snow emergencies, unless otherwise noted. For example, roads that have parking only on the even-numbered side of the street year-round will remain even-side-only during snow emergencies.

Snow Emergency Parking Information:

• Once a snow emergency has been declared, residents have four hours to move vehicles to the correct side of the street, or into a designated City parking lot.
• Vehicles not moved during this window of time will be ticketed ($100 fine) and towed ($100 fine assessed by the tow company).
• Vehicles parked within 20 feet of any intersection will be ticketed and towed.
• For a list of designated City and School parking lots available for snow emergency parking, visit www.somervillema.gov/snow.
• Residents are encouraged to sign up for phone, email, and text alerts by visiting www.somervillema.gov/alerts.
• For more information on the City's snow removal and snow emergency policies, visit www.somervillema.gov/snow, or download the City's 311 app in iTunes or Google Play, by searching "311Somerville."

The city offers a free alert system to keep residents in the loop ahead of snow emergencies. If you are not already registered, you can sign up by visiting www.somervillema.gov/alerts, or by calling 311 (617-666-3311 from outside the City).

Patch File Photo