The City of Cincinnati has been diligently working to cope with the aftermath of a historic snowstorm and is bracing for more snow as the week approaches. According to a recent update from the City of Cincinnati, additional snow accumulation is expected on Friday and will likely continue into Saturday, with a forecast of three to five inches of fresh snowfall. The city urges drivers to exercise extreme caution, allow more time for travel, and maintain a safe distance from snowplows and other vehicles on the road.
To prepare, City crews have been running 12-hour shifts for six days straight and will keep on to tackle the additional snowfall. The city is fully mobilizing its departments, which include Recreation, Parks, Greater Cincinnati Water Works, and Metropolitan Sewer District, to aid in the snow removal efforts. Officials emphasize that all four plow districts are being systematically addressed, and all routes are planned to be plowed with a focus on maintaining the heavy-use plow equipment.
The city's Department of Public Services (DPS) has been focusing on residential routes in particular. Still, the extreme cold has exacerbated the difficulty of clearing the snow, necessitating multiple passes on streets. Crews are deploying calcium chloride and rock salt to treat the 3,100 lane miles within city boundaries. According to the city's statement, as of 7 a.m. Friday, plows have traversed over 47,000 lane miles, equating to driving every lane mile in the City 15 times over, or nearly twice around the Earth's circumference.
For those needing refuge from the cold, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) has extended its support to hundreds of community members by converting the Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center into a daytime cold weather shelter. The shelter operates from 6:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and will remain open until Saturday evening. Essential services are provided, including bus transportation, meals, health services, and winter necessities like blankets. CRC has gratefully acknowledged LaRosa’s and the Cincinnati Reds Community Foundation for their contributions of food to the daytime shelter this Saturday.
Regarding city services, Cincinnati is currently operating under a one-day delay schedule for trash, yard waste, recycling, and bulk item pick-up for the week, with the potential for additional delays. Residents are asked to leave carts on the curb until crews can service the area. The city has also deployed four community responder teams to assist with traffic control, help stranded motorists, and attend to 311 service requests. Residents are encouraged to report non-emergency issues via 311Cincy, the city’s one-stop customer service portal, and reserve 911 for emergencies only.
