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City declares Stage 2 snow event

Full city plow begins

Julie Happy, Communications Manager, BDS, 509.625.7773

Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 8:17 a.m.

Heavy snow falling in Spokane caused the City to declare a Stage 2 snow event that initiates a full-city plow.

City crews worked throughout the weekend to prepare streets ahead of the Monday storm. With 6 inches of snow on the ground and more anticipated during the same storm, additional crews were called in to remove snow ahead of the Tuesday morning commute. The city has more than 2,100 lane miles, including 250 principal arterial lane miles and more than 760 major and secondary arterials.

Snow emergency routes, which include principal arterials, major arterials, hills and transit routes, will be the initial focus. Resources are being added to the residential hill routes as part of the Stage 2 snow event. A full-city plow takes approximately 4 days to complete and can be monitored on the snow removal progress map.

A Stage Two Snow Event is declared when:

Six inches of snow are on the ground and more is anticipated during the current snow event. This declaration triggers a number of actions.

The City will:

  • Notify citizens of the snow event.
  • Immediately embark on a full-city plow
  • Bring in additional crews
  • Be ready to implement the “Snow Corridor Plan,” if weather conditions severely restrict the City’s ability to keep up with the snowfall
  • Clear sidewalks around priority City-owned property within 24 hours

Citizens are asked to:

  • Move parked cars off all arterials and fixed STA bus routes within 6 hours.
  • Move vehicles off downtown street parking spaces between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
  • Move parked cars in residential areas to the odd side of the street within 6 hours
  • Clear snow off vehicles parked along the street
  • Clear snow from around curb ramps, fire hydrants, storm drains, and mail boxes
  • Clear sidewalks of snow within 24 hours.

Further snow information:

  • Online www.spokanecity.org
  • On social media @spokanecity on Twitter and Facebook