Bates Area Civic Association

BACA Neighbors, it goes without saying that our area has received nearly no resources from DC Government to clear our streets (compared to other DC neighborhoods). Below are some ways that you can make a difference. If all of us call, make an online request and have our voices heard, believe me those that are seeking re-election will hear us. Below is an email from MPD-5 with this information. Regards, Geovani Bonilla

See below for the proper and most effective way to make these notifications to DC’s Department of Transportation, along with links to additional information you may find helpful during this time.

#1- The Office of Unified Communications (also known as the 3-1-1 Call Center) has two ways for you to report icy streets in need of snow plows. This is the fastest and most comprehensive way to get information directly to DC’s Department of Transportation officials. (Two Options Below)

Option 1- Dial 311 or the 10-digit equivalent to 311, which is 202.737.4404- Customer Service call takers are ready, 24 hours a day to take your requests and information about conditions on your street. Please remember to provide the block number (2800 Block of Hartford Street) and quadrant (NW, SE, etc). Note: In any life-threatening emergencies, please upgrade your call by dialing 9-1-1.

OR

Option 2- Report your street online by visiting the website immediately following this paragraph (below). This is the same system/database the 311 Call Takers will use. Go to the site, next to the column that says, “Service Type”, select “SNOW/ICE REMOVAL” from the Drop-Down Menu OR You can type in SNOW/ICE REMOVAL in the box that say, “Keywords”. From there, you will see an option at the bottom of your selection (in blue writing) that says, “Request This Service”. Click on to the writing in blue and enter your street name and block, along with any notes that you may have about the area, like (example: There is a white car on the block that was abandoned three days ago.) You will continue to enter information and select “Next” until you have completed the request. The site will guide you through all four prompts. You will also re ceive a tracking number.

SITE FOR ONLINE REQUESTS FOR SNOW PLOWS: http://311.dc.gov/cwi/citizenweb/ui/citizenwebintake.aspx

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USEFUL

#2- Always check http://www.dc.gov for updated information from the Mayor’s Office. Gov’t alerts are also posted at: https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/latest.php This includes Federal Govt and weather alerts in regards to the snow emergency. To register for these alerts, which will arrive in your email device or your cell phone, via text messaging, visit: https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/register.php

#3- To View the City’s Snow Plans, visit: http://www.ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1256,q,564084,ddotNav_GID,1586,ddotNav,|32397|.asp

#4- You can Track a City Map Viewing the Progress of the DDOT Snow Plows by visiting: http://snowmap.dc.gov/

#5- To View the City’s Snow Emergency Vehicle Towing Policy or the List of Emergency Routes, visit:
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1256,q,645844.asp

#6- To get updated information on Metro’s train and bus announcements, you can register for updates by visiting: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/subscribe.cfm or you can read latest updates by visiting Metro’s main webpage at http://www.wmata.com The updates will be in the middle of the page, and is normally accompanied by a photo.

#7- Metro has already published Today’s update on this page: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4287

This may have been a lot to digest, so my recommendation is to visit options #2 and #6 above, if you are unable to visit all sites. These two options should get you the basic information most people will need during this weather emergency. All major news stations will also have updates around the clock.

Thank you for your time.

Yvonne Smith
Community Outreach
Metropolitan Police Department
Washington, DC 20001
202.727.8809 office

Report Homeless Individuals and Families in the Cold to the Hypothermia Hotline: Designed to prevent hypothermia deaths among the homeless by providing District citizens with a hotline number they can call to have homeless persons who are outside in freezing temperatures picked up by a van and transported to a local shelter. For more information, call the shelter hotline 1 (800) 535-7252.