Leaders in D.C., Maryland and Virginia declared states of emergency ahead of a winter storm bearing down on the Washington region that could drop up to 2 feet of snow on the nation’s capital beginning Friday.
The heavy snowfall and windy conditions could create a “potentially paralyzing storm” that could affect more than 50 million people as the storm pummels the region and then continues north along the Interstate 95 corridor toward New York City, said National Weather Service Director Louis Uccellini.
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for the D.C. region beginning 3 p.m. Friday and stretching through 6 a.m. Sunday.
Around the region, officials put emergency plans into place to handle the potentially record-setting snowfall.
Metro announced it would cancel all train and bus service on Saturday and Sunday, even to underground stations it has left open in the past during major snow storms. The Virginia legislature gave itself the day off, canceling Senate and House committee hearings and floor sessions for Friday.
And school systems one-by-one announced Friday closures, making it a four-day weekend for several that had canceled classes Thursday as well.
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Meanwhile, residents across the region scurried to buy supplies Thursday ahead of the pending storm, with area grocery stores selling out of staple items like bread and checkout lines in hardware stores stretching deep into the aisles.
Less than an inch of snow fell Wednesday night across the region, setting up a test run for snow and street treatment crews that by and large proved to be a major failure. Motorists were stranded on icy roadways for hours as they tried to commute home, prompting local leaders to apologize for the lack of preparation.
“We are very sorry for an inadequate response,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Thursday at a news conference at a city salt dome. “We should have been out earlier, with more resources.”
Per the mayor’s order, D.C. Public Schools will be closed Friday and the D.C. government will shut down at noon.
In Virginia, where traffic came to a standstill for hours on major roadways Wednesday night, officials admitted crews did not pretreat roads ahead of the minor snowstorm. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said crews possibly were caught off-guard while preparing for the bigger storm that’s yet to come.
“It is our commitment that we will not see a repeat of what happened last night,” Ms. Bulova said.
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has more than 2,500 crew members; 13,000 pieces of equipment, including plows, trucks and salt spreaders; and 650,000 tons of salt, sand and abrasives on hand ready to deploy.
“Particularly in Northern Virginia, we could spend upwards of $1 million an hour. And we are prepared to do that,” VDOT spokeswoman Tamara Rollison said about the potential cost of the snow operation. “We are bracing for a statewide blizzard.”
In the District, motorists were reminded not to park on major thoroughfares that the city classifies as snow emergency routes. Cars parked on those streets will be towed.
Officials across the region encouraged residents to stock up on supplies while they can and to avoid travel during the storm.
“It is essential that residents prepare now, stay informed, and stay off the roads after the snow begins,” said Russell Strickland, executive director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. “MEMA has been coordinating State resources to deal with problems that the significant snowfall may cause, but, motorists can avoid delays and serious incidents by avoiding travel.”
All three Washington- and Baltimore-area airports will see canceled flights as a result of the storm, with cancellations starting Friday afternoon and all flights canceled Saturday. All major airlines also have issued waivers for travel over the weekend, allowing passengers to rebook onto earlier or later flights to avoid the storms.
The governors of North Carolina and Pennsylvania also have declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, a designation that allows officials to request federal disaster aid.
While area residents braced for the onslaught of heavy snowfall, there was at least one bit of positive news — sledding will be allowed at the U.S. Capitol.
A ban on sledding on Capitol grounds, which dates back to 1876 but had only regularly been enforced since 2001, previously prevented area residents from putting their sleds and snow discs to use there.
“Capitol Hill is this city’s iconic snow sledding hill, and Congress got out of the way, allowing our kids to freely enjoy what promises to be one of the best snowfalls in years,” said Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District’s non-voting congressional representative and the architect of the sledding ban repeal. “All families need to worry about now is picking the best time to go sledding.”
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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