For Immediate Release: 2/15/2015 7:38 pm
Worcester, MA (February 15, 2015) - The Department of Public Works and Parks' full force of 348 plows finished main line plowing around 2:00 PM Sunday, and they expect to be done with residential streets around 5:00 PM. Crews are also currently salting main lines and will sand as needed later tonight where needed.
Later tonight, crews supplied by MEMA will resume the operation to get rid of some of the historic amounts of snow that have blanketed the City. As they have every night since Wednesday, front end loaders and dump trucks will be clearing snow from high traffic areas throughout the City. The snow will be hauled to the City's snow farm near the Worcester Regional Airport.
Parks employees are also out in full force clearing sidewalks around Worcester's parks and other municipally-owned properties.
Sunday morning, the Worcester Fire Department responded to two structure fires – one in a detached garage on Chandler Street and a home on Brownell Avenue. No one was injured in either fire, thanks to the quick work of Worcester firefighters. They were aided by neighbors, who had already shoveled out nearby hydrants before the calls came in.
Worcester has 6,100 fire hydrants, and with the volume of snow and the need to plow streets and clear sidewalks, DPW and the Fire Department can't get to them all. Despite help from local colleges the National Guard, many of the City's hydrants are still blocked by snow. The City relies on the help of residents to clear these hydrants. Find out more about Adopting a Hydrant and share your photos of shoveled hydrants on social media by using the hashtag #adoptahydrant.
Worcester has now passed 100 inches of snow this season. Roughly 90 inches has fallen in just the past three weeks. Given those extraordinary numbers, structural collapses are a major concern. The City's Inspectional Services Division reported Sunday morning to a structural failure at 138 Green St., a commercial building in the Canal District.
Inspectors found that an ice dam forced an upper floor beam to drop several inches, damaging the sprinkler main and causing water damage to all lower floors. The building is stable, but businesses there will be closed until further notice.
The City again reminds residents and business owners to keep a close eye on the amount of snow on roofs, and to clear snow if necessary. Flat commercial roofs, garages, porches and other low-pitched roofs are particularly vulnerable.
Property owners are also reminded of the City's sidewalk ordinance. Owners or occupants of property with sidewalks are required to clear a path on their sidewalks no more than 10 hours after snow ceases to fall.
Complaints about sidewalks or other storm-related issued can be made to (508) 929-1300, or on the City's Online Customer Service Center.
