Baltimore City Agencies Prepare For Snow
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It may not be in the forecast yet, but snow is on the mind of Baltimore City agencies.
As Alex DeMetrick reports, no one's counting on a repeat of last winter's mild weather, not with 2010's blizzard still a painful memory.
Two years ago, Maryland had more snow than Buffalo with more than six feet in two back-to-back blizzards. Streets looked like bobsled runs. It was a struggle for plows, drivers waiting for plows and pedestrians. Most of all, it was a struggle finding some place to get rid of it. It was a painful learning experience and the starting point for this year's preparations for winter.
"We've gamed out based on that horrific snowstorm what to do. We have the harbor. We have parking lots where we know we can put it," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. "We have access to the snow dragon, which I hope in my lifetime we never have to use again.
The snow dragon came from Canada and melted snow. It's on standby, along with up to 200 city and contracted plows and salt trucks, because unlike the counties which get state help to clear roads, the incorporated city of Baltimore is on its own.
"In the case of the city we are responsible for all our routes, including I-83, 295, Charles Street and York Road and every other street the city has," said Khalil Zaid, Director of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation.
The city says it has prepared as best it can, right down to a heavenly appeal for no more snowmageddons.
"The first contingency's prayer, so we don't have to do it again," said Rawlings-Blake.
But down-to-earth hardware is on hand, just in case.
Salt to treat roads won't be an issue. So little was used last winter, the city has a large supply in reserve.
