Posted on by West Park Times

Cleveland Police issue snow emergency parking ban, waste collection delayed

FROM ‘STRAIGHT FROM CITY HALL’

Karrie D. Howard, Director of Public Safety for the City of Cleveland, has declared a Snow Emergency Parking Ban for the city of Cleveland effective at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. As a result, stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles will be restricted and prohibited on City streets with posted red and white signs until 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, unless heavy snowfall continues and the ban is further needed. 

Parking is prohibited on designated Snow Emergency streets, which are identified as necessary for transportation, the movement of food and fuel supplies, medical care, fire, health and police protection and other vital facilities of the City. Significant snowfall can cause streets to become congested and un-passable.

Vehicles left parked in the roadway prevent snowplows from clearing streets, which can make driving down these streets impossible. This results in bottlenecks and gridlock which can hamper response by emergency vehicles.

For this reason, citizens are asked to avoid parking vehicles on all city streets to allow snow plows sufficient time to remove snow and ice from the roads.

City of Cleveland works to clear snow throughout the City’s neighborhoods, waste collection will be delayed by one day this week due to snow

The City of Cleveland continues snow removal operations as snowfall remains steady into the evening. The Department of Public Works is equipped with more than 50 snow plows and other snow removal vehicles and 34,000 tons of salt to clear 52 street routes throughout Cleveland.

During the day, the City pulled additional crews from Utilities, Park Maintenance and Urban Forestry and Traffic Engineering to supplement our usual fleet of snow removal vehicles. The priority has been to clear main streets first. This additional staffing allowed us to move into residential streets earlier in the day. At noon on December 1, crews turned their attention from main streets to side streets. Our crews will continue to work full shifts throughout the night and, if necessary, throughout Wednesday.

The Division of Streets is monitoring its Automated Vehicle Locator system, which allows the city to track its fleets and be more efficient in the systematic snow removal operations.

The City of Cleveland Department of Public Works WILL NOT collect waste on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. Waste collection trucks are not able to reach side streets due to the severity of the storm. Waste collection will be delayed by one day for remainder of the week.  

Winter weather preparedness tips:

  • CodeRED: Winter weather brings many challenges for our citizens and in order to stay informed of emergencies during this winter season, the City encourages everyone to sign up for CodeRED or to install the free app on the Apple or Google Play stores. It is simple and easy to access. Click on this link and follow the instructions to subscribe by email.
  • Don’t Block the Box: Ensure you can move all the way through an intersection before the traffic signal changes. Stopping in the middle of an intersection prohibits oncoming vehicles from passing through that intersection and can result in gridlock. In addition, blocking the box can prevent the passage of emergency vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. Be aware of traffic control officers who may be outside on the street directing traffic.
  • Check Emergency Supply Kits: Do you have extra winter clothes, sufficient food and water, extra batteries, flashlights and a battery or hand-crank radio? What about medications, toys for the kids, pet food, and copies of important information such as numbers for your local utilities? While checking on your own supplies, take some time to check on your neighbors and the elderly. Ensure that all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home are working properly.
  • Take personal precautions and check on the vulnerable: The cold weather may put a strain on your heart. Follow your doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or other strenuous work. Many injuries result from falls on ice-covered surfaces. Keep steps and walkways clean and free of ice. Infants and the elderly are most at risk for cold-related illness. Keep in touch with elderly or at-risk neighbors or relatives, making sure they are safe and that their homes are adequately heated.
  • Dress appropriately in the cold: Almost all cases of hypothermia and frostbite are preventable. If you must be outside, dress appropriately: wear loose fitting layers to provide overall body warmth, a hat, scarf, mittens and boots will provide additional protection from the elements. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. Keep dry and change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. If you suspect hypothermia or frostbite, call 911 immediately. If possible, protect the person from further exposure to the cold, remove any wet clothing and warm without rubbing the affected areas.
  • Pay attention to snow parking bans: If snow accumulation exceeds 2 inches or more, a Snow Emergency Parking Ban may be enacted. The ban allows plows sufficient time to remove snow and ice and move through city streets at a good pace. When a snow ban goes into effect, stopping, standing, and parking of vehicles will be restricted and prohibited on City streets with posted red and white signs. Anyone who fails to comply will be ticketed and towed.
  • Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather: Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water. Don’t forget or skip planning and preparing for your animals! For concerns about pets outside in extreme weather, please call (216) 664-3069.
  •  Stay Connected: Check on friends and neighbors, especially those who are seniors or have young children.
  • Power Outages: If you’re experiencing power outages call/ contact:
  • Cleveland Water Department Issues: If customers experience a water service emergency, please call (216) 664-3060.​

Public Works and Port Control Hiring Snow Removal Vehicle Operators

The City of Cleveland Department of Public Works is hiring Snow Removal Vehicle Operators. This position is seasonal and will be used only during the snow removal season. Required qualifications include:

  • High School Diploma or GED;
  • Valid Commercial Drivers’ License (CDL) Type B with Air Brake Endorsement; and
  • Good driving record.

The City of Cleveland Department of Port Control is also hiring Snow Removal Vehicle Operators. This position is seasonal and will be used only during the snow removal season. Airport and departmental requirements include:

  • Must successfully complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 10 year fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Check and employment background check and Security Threat Assessment.
  • Must be able to pass a pre-employment physical and drug test; and
  • Must successfully complete all applicable regulatory airfield Ground Vehicle Operator and Winter Operations training/assessments and maintain corresponding airfield driving privileges.

For more information and to view more available City of Cleveland positions, click here.

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