Preparation For Upcoming Winter Storm

Hello Ward 5 Neighbors,

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Washington Metropolitan Area from Tuesday evening to Wednesday evening. Heavy snow and extremely strong winds are expected until Wednesday evening.

Heavy, wet snow, ice, and high winds can bring tree limbs into contact with power lines to cause power outages. Heavy rain and oversaturated soil can cause trees already weakened by previous storms to fall onto power lines and equipment to cause power outages.

In preparation for the storm, my office and I have been in communications with Pepco, the District Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works, DC Water and the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency regarding their storm preparations. For those that have not already done so, please sign up for DC alerts (info below). My staff will continue to provide updates as often as possible through community listservs and our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Once the storm hits, my team and I will be out in the Ward assessing damages and reporting issues. Should you need to reach someone from my office, please contact Tim Clark, Director Community and Business Affairs at 202-257-8318; Jon Mandel, Community and Business Affairs Coordinator at 202-368-5100; and/or Jeannette Mobley, Chief of Staff at 202-294-2638.

The most effective way to report an outage or downed wire is to call Pepco’s Call Center at 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662). Residents can also download the Pepco mobile app at www.pepco.com/mobileapp. To have trees or debris removed and all other non-emergency issues, call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311 or to go to snow.dc.gov. Below are a few additional snow resources, safety and preparedness tips.

Please remember to check in on your neighbors, particularly our seniors and disabled. Please stay safe and warm.

Best,

Kenyan

Snow Resources, Safety and Preparedness Tips

· Locate flashlights, charge all phones and computers in preparation for the storm and possible power outages.

· People driving, walking or bicycling around the District should travel cautiously.

· Property owners are asked to pre-treat their sidewalks with abrasives and remove snow within 24 hours of the end of the storm.

· Please help neighbors who need assistance with clearing their sidewalks.

· Residents are encouraged to go to snow.dc.gov for updates before, during and after snowstorms, and for tips to get one’s home and family prepared for inclement weather.

· Residents also may sign up at alert.dc.gov to receive emergency alerts and notifications from Alert DC. Additionally, residents can sign up for DC Gov’t Text Alerts at https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/index.php?CCheck=1. The Alert DC system provides rapid text notification and update information during a major crisis or emergency. This system delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates on a range of devices, including your smartphones.

· Pepco’s Storm Preparations Handbook: the storm preparations handbook contains excellent information on what you need to do to be prepared for the storm, including information concerning Pepco’s restoration process.

· After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. The Red Cross “Safe and Well” Registration website is designed to help make that communication easier.

To register as “Safe and Well”:

o Click on the “List Myself as Safe and Well” button to register yourself on the site.

o Search for Loved Ones
o Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” by clicking on the “Search Registrants” button. The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message.

Additional Resources:

Mayor’s Office: http://www.dc.gov

Mayor’s Twitter: http://twitter.com/mayorvincegray

MPD/DC Police: http://twitter.com/#!/DCPoliceDept

FEMA: http://www.FEMA.gov

FEMA: http://twitter.com/FEMA

DC Fire & EMS: http://twitter.com/dcfireems

DC Dept. of Transportation: http://twitter.com/DDOTDC

DC Dept. of Public Works: http://twitter.com/DCDPW

DC Homeland Security & Emergency Mgmt. Agency: http://twitter.com/DC_HSEMA

DC Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs: http://twitter.com/dcra

Federal Department of Homeland Security: https://twitter.com/DHSgov