FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 7, 2019
(WASHINGTON, DC) In response to a winter weather event expected today, Mayor Muriel Bowser has ordered the DC Department of Public Works to deploy 100 plow trucks to treat District highways, bridges, main roads, and major arterials.
Precipitation is expected to begin in the form of rain and eventually turn to snow. Temperatures are expected to remain slightly above freezing until late Tuesday evening. Motorists should proceed with caution and anyone who must be on roadways after dark is asked to use public transportation. Residents and businesses should use salt, deicer, or non-clumping kitty litter for their steps and walk-ways. The District’s Snow Team uses pet friendly deicer on pedestrian bridges.
The District’s Snow Team will continue to monitor the weather forecast and adjust its response throughout the day. For more information about DC’s snow program and preparing for winter weather, visit snow.dc.gov.
Residents and commuters are encouraged to register for important weather alerts from the District by signing up for AlertDC at alertdc.dc.gov. The DC Snow Team also encourages residents and commercial property owners to apply abrasives such as rock salt, de-icer, or non-clumping kitty litter to the sidewalks around their properties to reduce the possibility of icing and to prevent slips and falls.
Hypothermia Alert and Shelters
The Bowser Administration activated the District’s Hypothermia Alert today at 12:00 p.m., and it will remain on until further notice. Hypothermia alerts are activated when the NWS forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32°F or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40°F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is 50% or greater.
Access to Shelter
Hypothermia Shelters are open from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. anytime a Hypothermia Alert is called, except in recreation centers, where, due to previously scheduled programming, the shelter opens at 9:00 p.m.
Men
· Banneker Recreation Center at 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW (Monday - Friday; 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.)
· Kennedy Recreation Center at 1401 7th Street, NW (Monday - Friday; 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.)
· Salvation Army at 3335 Sherman Avenue, NW
· CCNV Drop-In Center at 425 D Street, NW
Women
· New Covenant Baptist at 1301 W Street, SE
· Sherwood Recreation Center at 640 10th Street, NE (Monday - Friday; 9:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.)
· Community of Christ at 3526 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Seasonal Shelters are open daily from 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., November 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020:
Women
· King Greenleaf Recreation Center at 201 N Street, SW
Co-Ed
· Malcolm X Recreation Center (Co-Ed) at 1351 Alabama Avenue, SE
Low-Barrier Shelters for individuals operate year-round and will be open 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. If a Hypothermia Alert is issued, all shelters are open all day and will remain open during the extent of the Hypothermia Alert.
Men
· New York Avenue Shelter at 1355 New York Avenue, NE
· 801 East Shelter at 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
· Adams Place Emergency Shelter at 2210 Adams Place, NE
Women
· Saint Josephine Bakhita at 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW (Opens at 7:00 p.m.)
· Harriet Tubman at 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE Building #2
· Patricia Handy Place for Women at 810 5th Street, NW
Other tips for the winter season include:
- Find your snow shovel and make sure it is adequate for another snow season.
- Check your supply of abrasives – deicer, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter – and get more if necessary. The District has used pet-friendly deicer on its pedestrian bridges for several years and found it to melt ice effectively and be easy on pets’ paws.
- Have enough over-the-counter and prescription medications for your family and pet(s).
- Make sure your gutters are cleared of leaves. You don’t want leaves to block the flow of rainwater that may freeze.
- Before the first frost, turn off all outdoor water faucets.
- Keep your vehicle’s fluids tanks – gas, water, antifreeze and windshield wiper – full.
- Have a flashlight, blankets, and scrapers in your vehicle before a storm begins.