Montgomery County residents can breathe a little easier as the snow emergency, which began almost five days ago on Jan. 24, has finally come to an end. In a bid to battle the snowfall that brought up to 11.5 inches of snow in certain areas, the emergency procedures were lifted as of 7 a.m. today. According to Montgomery County, free parking in county garages, which was a temporary relief measure, will cease tomorrow morning, with fees and enforcement set to resume at the same time.
Despite the emergency being lifted, officials warn that major snow-clearing operations are not quite finished yet. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has been on a marathon, clearing over 5,300 lane miles of snow and ice. To handle more than a week's worth of entrenched winter fury, they've deployed 550 pieces of equipment, and nearly 600 personnel have been on the clock for over 70 continuous hours. And although the snow has stopped falling, the crews will keep checking areas and treating the roads through the night and into tomorrow. Residents looking to report additional snow removal needs are encouraged to call 3-1-1, 240-777-0311, or to create a service request online via the County’s Winter Storm Information Portal. With freezing temperatures lingering, the onus remains on individuals to tread carefully, as dangerous conditions might still lurk on the roadways.
In an effort to recognize the difficulties arising from these icy conditions, the Department of Housing and Community Affairs has announced that it is pausing sidewalk snow-clearing enforcement efforts until Monday, Feb 2. Acknowledging the arduous task of scraping away the icy remnants of the past days, they issued a call for property owners to assist neighbors by clearing sidewalks "as soon as it is safe and possible to do so," with emphasis on accessibility for all, including entrances, exits, and disability-friendly routes, according to Montgomery County.
For those looking for updates or news on MCDOT services, they provide an informative website at montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot. They also keep the public in the loop via social media platforms such as X, BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, and advise residents to subscribe to their "Go Montgomery!" newsletter for the very latest.
