Update:
At 12:45 PM the DPW&T Building Services Division was mobilized to clear the main entrances of the Adult Detention Center, Office of the Sheriff, 911 Communications Center, Advanced Life Support, Marcey House and Walden Sierra Complex. At the direction of the DPW&T, Recreation and Parks personnel began addressing the parking lots and access roads to the emergency services providers on the Governmental Center Campus.
At present, there are three (3) salt contractors with four pieces of equipment assisting ten (10) County Highways snow plows on County-maintained roadways. Since accumulations are diminishing, thirteen (13) snow plow contractors will also be mobilized between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM to address the secondary roadways, primarily from the Leonardtown area to the northern County line where accumulations are the greatest. Regarding Non-Public School Bus transportation on Monday February 26, 2007, we will be providing service on the same schedule as the Public Schools. A NOTAM for the St. Mary’s County Regional Airport runway will be issued regarding the conditions of the runway. If you have to travel this afternoon and evening, please do so with extreme caution.
In St. Mary’s County the Snow Operations Office opened early this morning and four DPW&T salt trucks were mobilized at approximately 7:45 AM. Crews were dispatched to the Northern and Western Service areas to treat the Priority 1 Salt Routes. In addition, isolated areas in the Central Service District were addressed at that time.
At 10:00 AM, a dedicated DPW&T salt truck was dispatched into the Central Service District to ensure the primary County-maintained routes were treated. Depending on the changing weather conditions, once the Priority 1 Routes are completed, secondary residential roadways in these areas will also be addressed.
Very few additional call-outs had been reported this morning, but additional crews will remain on stand-by status. Pavement temperatures were above freezing at 11 a.m., but cold spots will continue to be addressed as they are reported.
Temperatures should begin to rise to near 38 to 40 degrees over the next several hours with above freezing temperatures expected overnight.
The Building Services Division will mobilized tomorrow morning between 5-6 AM to treat sidewalks and entryways at all County Government facilities, including the public libraries, if needed, to ensure buildings will be able to be accessible on-time.
Recreation & Parks personnel may also be mobilized to address County facility parking areas. Convenience Centers will remain on schedule until further notice. STS Sunday Service Routes will be operating, but may experience minor delays due to the roadway conditions.
Around noon, two additional DPW&T salt trucks were been dispatched and one salt contractor. Crews are also being directed to begin plowing in several areas due to the type and amount of accumulation. The Valley Lee area precipitation has unexpectedly changed over to sleet and freezing rain and salt trucks will be dispatched. Two additional salt contractors and several snow plow contractors may be mobilized over the next several hours to assist County crews and help expedite the treatment / plowing of secondary roadways.
The Clements, Valley Lee, and Oakville Convenience Centers solid waste compactors are near capacity, but due to weather conditions may experience closure before 5:00 PM (ie. between Noon and 3 PM).