HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-10-2011 South Bend Snow Clearance Update
Office of the Mayor
MEDIA ADVISORY
Monday, January 10, 2011
6:30 pm
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Communications & Spec. Projects, 574-235-5855 c. 574-876-1564
Sam Hensley, Division of Streets, 574-235-9244
South Bend Snow Clearance Update
South Bend, IN: After finishing east-west streets during the day, crews tonight will return to the main
arterial streets and all snow emergency and bus routes for a second pass at snow removal. Off-street
parking areas will also be cleared. Beginning Tuesday, and depending on additional snowfall, for the
rest of the week crews will return to residential snow clearance working to clear every street from
curbside to curbside. During the day, instead of focusing on east-west, north-south routes, crews will
circle the city starting in the center, covering the inner two-thirds core of the city’s residential
neighborhoods, while people are at work or school. During the night, they will work in the outer third
of the city’s residential neighborhoods, where off-street parking is more prevalent. People are urged to
move their cars off the street or to cleared areas on their street or nearby streets, including main arteries
or thoroughfares until the plows have returned. Crews will be working 16- to 24-hour days until
streets are cleared curb to curb. So far, the total amount of snow cleared and removed totals 150,000
tons (water weight).
Critical Citizen Participation
Sidewalks
– residents and property owners are reminded that they are responsible for clearing
sidewalks around their property. Primary areas of concern are crosswalks, bus stops and especially
sidewalks near schools. Help your neighbors, especially older people or people with disabilities, to
move their cars and to clear their sidewalks
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Fire Hydrants
– the city is also seeking the public’s assistance in clearing snow from the 5,500 fire
hydrants around the city. If you have a fire hydrant on or near your property, please clear the snow off
of it. The South Bend Fire Department recommends clearing a 3 ft. radius around the fire hydrant as
well.
Snow-bound cars
- The city will begin tagging cars that have not been cleared of snow or have not
been moved since the snow emergency was declared. Once a vehicle has been tagged, if it is not
moved within 3 days it could be towed and impounded.
The city is stepping up efforts including utilizing non-traditional city personnel to help with snow
removal. In addition, the city is seeking volunteer assistance to help with snow removal. The city will
be appealing to other businesses and institutions within the community for help with snow removal
related to fire hydrants, crosswalks, and sidewalks, especially working with people who need special
assistance or have special needs, including schools and emergency response centers. Anyone wishing
to volunteer may call the Mayor’s Office at 235-9261. After a record snowfall like this, people should
turn to family, friends, neighbors, and others for assistance. For those without such connections,
questions may be directed to the Mayor’s Office which is serving as a clearinghouse and will direct
people to the appropriate department or organization for assistance.
Trash pick-up is on schedule for the week. If your collection is missed, please contact Solid Waste at
277-8823. Friday will be the make-up day for missed pick-ups. If someone who has curbside pick-up
is not able to place their bin at the curb because of snow piles, residents can place the bin on the
sidewalk for collection.
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