Press Release: City Offices Closed on Monday; Transit on Saturday Schedule; Trash Pickups Normal

PRESS RELEASE

City of Annapolis

Public Information Office

160 Duke of Gloucester Street

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :

Media Contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or [email protected]

On Monday, City of Annapolis Offices to Close
Due to Predicted Snow; Trash Pickups as Normal;
Transit Routes on Saturday Schedule

ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 5, 2025) - The City of Annapolis is preparing for severe winter weather over the next 24 to 36 hours, including heavy snowfall and the possibility of sleet and freezing rain. City offices will be closed on Monday with the exception of essential services. Transit services will operate on a Saturday Schedule, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including the State Shuttle. At this time, trash and recycling pickups will occur as scheduled on Monday. If service is suspended due to weather, residents should keep their cans by the curb for a Tuesday pickup. Please do not place cans in the street, because it can interfere with plowing operations.

FORECAST: The National Weather Service has predicted the chance of precipitation (as snow) to be 100 percent for Monday. Starting after 9 p.m. tonight, snow will begin and continue throughout the day on Monday. Total accumulations for the storm may be as low as 8 inches with total accumulations of more than 12 inches of snow possible. At the end of the system, the snow may turn over to sleet or freezing rain. Please note: temperatures are expected to remain below freezing, meaning the snow that falls will stick to sidewalks and roadways. For more on the forecast, visit the National Weather Service website .

GOVERNMENT OPERATING STATUS: City of Annapolis offices will be closed on Monday, with the exception of essential services. Essential employees should report for duty on time. Quasi-essential employees should check in with their supervisor for work status. Non essential employees do not report to work.

• Anne Arundel County Public Schools have announced Code Red operating status (closed with no virtual instruction) on Monday. For details, visit www.aacps.org .

• Senior Activity Centers will be closed on Monday. The Senior Center Plus program is canceled. Lunch will not be served at any senior activity center or congregate site. For more information, please contact the Senior Nutrition Program at 410-222-0256.

• Anne Arundel County Libraries will be closed on Monday.

• The United States Naval Academy and NSA Annapolis have announced a suspension of normal operations for Monday.

PLOWING OPERATIONS: The Annapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) is prepared with deicing agents and plow crews who will begin at midnight and work in 12-hour shifts. If possible, avoid travel during the storm to allow crews time to do their work. If you must travel, please slow down and exercise caution in potentially icy conditions. Black ice can be especially dangerous because it is nearly invisible to drivers, especially on bridges and overpasses where cold air is able to cool the road surface from above and below.

• SNOWPATHS: The City of Annapolis recently announced SnowPaths, an initiative to provide residents, business owners, and visitors with real-time GPS tracking of winter road maintenance during snow and ice events. SnowPaths features an interactive map that displays real-time information on when roads were last serviced. Users can also view priority levels for roads throughout the city. Priority roads include emergency and connector routes that are serviced more frequently to allow for essential travel and safer access to critical services. Snowpaths is maintained by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and is accessible online at www.annapolis.gov/snowpaths .

FREE PARKING/REMOVE VEHICLES FROM EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTES: Vehicles must be removed from Emergency Snow Routes by 11 p.m. on Sunday. Failure to remove your vehicle from an Emergency Snow Route may result in the vehicle being towed and impounded. At this time, complimentary parking is available at the four City garages: Park Place (1 Park Place), Knighton (1A Colonial Place), Gotts (45 Northwest Street) and Hillman (150 Gorman Street). The City will announce the reopening of roads and the conclusion of the free parking period at the end of the storm, giving residents at least six hours to retrieve their vehicle or be charged. If you must travel during the storm, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing the risk of fall and injury.

ANNAPOLIS TRANSIT: At this time, transit routes will operate on a Saturday schedule, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The State Shuttle that services the Maryland General Assembly will run Monday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Annapolis Go Time on-demand transit will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Use the Transigo app or call Transportation Dispatch at 410-263-7964 to schedule your ride.

RECREATION AND PARKS: Both the Roger "Pip" Moyer Recreation Center and the Stanton Center will be closed tomorrow with all programming canceled.

WARMING CENTER: The Stanton Center, at 92 West Washington Street in Annapolis, will activate as a temporary emergency warming center at the following times:

• Tonight, January 5, 2025, at 7 p.m. through Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 7 a.m. (continuous operations for 36 hours)

• Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, at 7:00 pm until Wednesday morning at 7:00 am

• Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, at 7:00 pm until Thursday morning at 7:00 am

• Thursday, January 9th, 2025, at 7:00 pm until Friday morning at 7:00 am

Please note all referrals must check-in to the Stanton Center nightly by 9 p.m. If there is a need for general or long-term sheltering assistance, please contact the Crisis Response System Warmline at 410-768-5522.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND ANNAPOLIS CALL CENTER: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is currently at an "enhanced" level. At 5 a.m. on Monday, the EOC will elevate to Partial activation. The Annapolis Call Center is operational throughout this event for non-emergency questions related to the winter storm and City Services. Annapolis residents can call 410-260-2211. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.

CLEAR SIDEWALKS: Annapolis City Code requires property owners to clear adjacent public sidewalks (including sidewalks in the side and rear of properties) of snow and ice within three hours after snow or sleet has stopped falling (or by 11 a.m. following an overnight snow event). Please assist neighbors who may otherwise be unable to clear sidewalks (also, never use fertilizer to melt snow and ice since the nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer can harm local streams, groundwater, and the Chesapeake Bay).

ADOPT-A_HYDRANT: The Annapolis Fire Department asks residents to "Adopt-a-Hydrant," where residents help to clear fire hydrants after a winter storm. Buried hydrants cause dangerous delays for firefighters. This alleviates time spent searching for hydrants buried in drifts or plowed snow in case of an emergency. Volunteers should clear a wide enough perimeter from around the area of the hydrant (at least 3 feet). Also, clear a path from the hydrant to the street. Please wear visible and weather-appropriate clothing when clearing snow/ice.

STAY INFORMED:

• Alert Annapolis - This system allows the City to send out automated telephone messages, text messages, or emails quickly and efficiently in the event of an emergency. The brief message will provide information on the emergency and any important instructions. To sign up for Alert Annapolis, please go to the following site https://alertannapolis.civicready.com/ or text "ANNAPOLIS" to 38276.

• Prepare Me Annapolis Mobile App - This free app from OEM provides real-time alerts and information for Annapolitans to be prepared in any type of emergency. Prepare Me Annapolis is available, free of charge, on both the Apple Store and Google Play .

• Visit the City on social media at: www.Facebook.com/CityofAnnapolis and www.instagram.com/cityofannapolismd .

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