Philadelphia-City Provides Update On Response To Winter Storm

Philadelphia PA

02 February, 2021

7:26 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Philadelphia : Published by: Board of Health, Managing Director's Office, Department of Public Health, Department of Streets, Philly311, Office of Homeless Services, Office of the Mayor, Office of Emergency Management, Philadelphia Parking Authority, SEPTA, Free Library of Philadelphia Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications [email protected] For immediate release: February 01, 2021 PHILADELPHIA – The City of Philadelphia's Snow Emergency remains in effect. Officials today provided a number of updates related to the storm response and City services. The Response: Crews worked diligently overnight and throughout the day today to ensure streets are passable and to help return the city back to business quickly as possible. "I am proud of the collaboration among many agencies and look forward to seeing the great work they perform as we prepare for round two of this snow event," said Managing Director Tumar Alexander. "We encourage residents to stay home if they can as commuting is difficult through the wet, heavy snow." Crews are treating the entire city, but snow emergency routes, primary roads, and secondary roads will be serviced first to allow for safe passage. Residential streets will be treated after the primary and secondary roads are safe to travel. "Our goal is to make roads passable and return the city back to normal operations as quickly as possible," said Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. "This does not mean roads will be completely clear of snow and ice but made passable for safe traveling." Reminders: Do not shovel or plow snow into the street. This practice is illegal, unsafe and hinders snow operations. The penalty for violating this can range from $50 to $300 for each violation. Clear a sidewalk path at least 36 inches wide within six hours of the end of the storm. Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain. Motorists should allow extra time, exercise patience and maintain safe driving distances. Sanitation and Recycling Collections: All trash and recycling collections are suspended today, Monday, February 1 and Tuesday, February 2. Residents whose normal trash day is Monday or Tuesday must hold their materials for collections until next Monday, February 8 or Tuesday, February 9. Once collections resume, there will be no driveway collections this week. All materials must be set out in front of homes at the curb to prevent sanitation trucks from getting stuck in compacted snow in driveways. Sanitation Convenience Centers will resume operations on Tuesday, February 2 with normal hours of 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. The centers are open through Saturday. Visit philadelphiastreets.com for locations. City Buildings Closed: Due to the snow emergency, City of Philadelphia government offices are closed to the public again on Tuesday, February 2. City-Run Testing: City-run COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on February 2. The Health Department is working to reschedule appointments. The Health Department recommends calling ahead to non-City run sites to check if the sites are open or to learn if they are operating with different hours. City-Run Vaccine Clinic: The Health Department will operate its COVID-19 vaccine clinic at one location tomorrow, February 2 for appointments previously scheduled. Individuals who have registered for appointments with the Health Department will also have the option to reschedule their appointments. For all of the non-City sites, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, residents should call ahead to check their status. Food Sites: There are changes in distribution, with many sites closed Tuesday, February 2. The City is updating phila.gov/food with changes as they are available. Access Centers: Access Centers will be closed for the full day on Tuesday, February 2. Caregivers of students will be called by program staff to inform them of this change. Students who attend Access Centers should contact their individual schools regarding attendance while Access Centers are closed. Free Library of Philadelphia: The Free Library will be closed for in-person services and materials pick-up on Tuesday, February 2. The Free Library's virtual programming and call center 1-833-TALK FLP (825-5357) will be open. School District of Philadelphia: With the snow emergency still in effect, all School District of Philadelphia's buildings will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2, including the Family Technology Support Centers, District headquarters at 440 North Broad Street and all school buildings. Building closures will allow for the safe clearing of snow from all roadways and walkways on District properties. With all instruction taking place digitally, there will not be a need to issue a "snow day" and cancel classes on Tuesday. Therefore, students will once again be expected to log on for classes and participate in teacher-led instruction in the morning. Teachers will then assign independent tasks to be completed by students during the afternoon hours, allowing staff, students and families flexibility to engage in outdoor activities if the weather permits for them to do so safely. All staff designated as essential personnel during inclement weather will be contacted by their supervisor with reporting instructions and will be compensated according to the provisions of their collective bargaining agreements, if applicable. All other staff are expected to safely work from home. Archdiocese of Philadelphia: Archdiocesan high schools and parochial elementary schools in the city of Philadelphia will be closed on Tuesday, February 2. Secondary Schools in the city of Philadelphia will be on a virtual Flexible Day of Instruction. Archdiocesan high schools and parochial elementary schools in the suburban counties normally follow the decision of their corresponding local public school district and submit closure status independently. Call Centers Open: The Philly 311 Call Center will remain open during normal business hours on Monday and Tuesday (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) to take calls for non-emergencies. Requests for salting and plowing will not be taken during the storm. Once the storm has moved on, the City will announce when such requests will be taken. The Philadelphia Water Department's customer contact center (215-685-6300) will be open. Residents are encouraged to shovel snow from the fronts of fire hydrants and storm drains on their block to allow snow melt to drain to the city sewer system. Homeless Outreach: The Office of Homeless Services issued a Code Blue on Wednesday, January 27 at 3 p.m., and it will remain in effect until further notice. Throughout the Code Blue, Philadelphia's homeless outreach teams will patrol the streets in greater numbers, urging individuals experiencing homelessness to come indoors and avoid prolonged exposure to the elements amid dangerously cold temperatures. People do not need ID to enter shelters, and they can remain indoors throughout the duration of the Code Blue. If you are concerned about someone who is homeless, please call Homeless Outreach at 215-232-1984 at any time. Outreach is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. First responders can also transport people to shelter for their own safety. Review the Safer Shelter Initiative to learn how City-funded, privately operated shelters keep residents and staff safe. Pet Safety Awareness: Residents should contact the ACCT Philly hotline (267-385-3800 ext 1) if they observe a dog outside during extreme cold (aside from bathroom breaks and short walks). It is against City ordinance to leave dogs outside in extreme cold without proper shelter, and owners can be fined up to $500. Information for Businesses: All property owners and/or tenants are responsible for clearing a 36 inch path on all sidewalks, including curb cuts, abutting the building or premises within six hours after the snow has ceased to fall—even if the establishment is temporarily closed due to snow or COVID-19 restrictions. A fine of $50 or more can be imposed in violation of this code. Establishments with outdoor dining need to take additional precautions. All outdoor dining setups should be secured, removing as much of the setups as possible—including tables, chairs, heating equipment, temporary structures. As noted in the City's winter guidelines for outdoor dining, the City is not liable for any damage from plowing or snow removal, even if structures are permitted. Materials should be cleared from the right of way as much as possible to avoid possible damage and blocking of dining setups. Restaurants with unpermitted structures are reminded that their establishment is liable for any injuries suffered due to damage from the structure during and after the storm. SEPTA will continue to post real-time travel updates at septa.org and @SEPTA on Twitter. Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA): PPA will be offering a flat twenty-four-hour $5 parking rate at the following Center City garages until the snow emergency is lifted. AutoPark at Independence Mall (5th & Market Streets) AutoPark at Jefferson (10th & Ludlow Streets) AutoPark at the Fashion District (10th & Filbert Streets) AutoPark at Old City (2nd & Sansom Streets) Parkade on 8th (801 Filbert Street) Philadelphia Family Court Garage (1503-11 Arch Street – Going south on 15th Street, enter the garage on the west side just after 15th & Cherry St.) To receive the discounted $5 rate, customers must bring their ticket and pay at the PPA Management Office in each garage. During the snow emergency, the PPA will enforce all snow emergency and safety violations. Meters, kiosks, and time limit violations on residential blocks will not be enforced until the snow emergency is lifted. PHL International Airport: Travelers and those picking up travelers are encouraged to check their flight status and road conditions before leaving for the airport tonight and Tuesday. Call your airline, get updates at 1-800-PHL-GATE (745-4283), or check the PHL International Airport website—phl.org. The airport has brined onsite roadways, with snow removal and deicing operations planned for the duration of the event. First Judicial District: Courts will remain closed on Tuesday, but critical services will be operational including: Emergency Protection from Abuse Filings, Preliminary Arraignment Court, and Bail Acceptance. Philadelphia Prisons: All Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities remain closed to civilian visitors due to COVID-19 precautions. Stay Informed: Tune to local news for weather updates. Sign up for emergency alerts and weather updates from ReadyPhiladelphia at www.phila.gov/ready. For more winter weather tips, visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management online at www.phila.gov/ready. For official updates from the City, follow @PhilaOEM on Twitter or Facebook. Other City Twitter accounts to follow for information: @PhiladelphiaGov, @Philly311 and @PhilaStreets. ### This press release was produced by the City of Philadelphia.The views expressed here are the author's own.