If snow gets heavy, it may take time to plow your street; be prepared to keep your walkways safe and possibly stay in for a few days
By Sabrina Cotta
Here in the city of Ashland, our fingers are crossed that we don’t get the same amount of snow as last year. But if we do, the city is ready. In this article, we’ll share our tips on how to prepare your own household or business for winter storms.
Snowplow routes and winter roads
The city operates five snowplow-equipped trucks. When snow arrives, our trained operators plow roads based on a priority system: Routes to Asante Ashland Community Hospital and major arterials take precedence over collector streets and neighborhoods. If the snowfall is continuous, our crews may be busy plowing the same routes repeatedly to keep priority streets accessible. In those scenarios, your neighborhood street may not get plowed for several days. For more information visit ashlandoregon.gov/Streets.
Below are some tips on what to have on-hand at home or at work, in case you are stuck indoors for a few days.
Preparing at home and at work
Here are useful tools to have on hand in the event of a major snowstorm:
- Snow shovel, ice scraper and snow brush
- Coarse sand to create a less slippery surface on walkways and driveways
- Flashlights and warm blankets in case the electricity goes out
- Extra food and prescription medicines in case you are stuck at home for a few days
- Drinking water in case a pipe bursts and a plumber can’t arrive quickly
And remember, if driving becomes treacherous, pull over to the nearest parking space and get home another way! In major snow events, the city will suspend issuing parking tickets until people are able to safely get their vehicles home.
Emerging from the storm
One of the most common questions that the city receives after a snowstorm is when the city will come clear sidewalks, driveways or parking spaces. Unfortunately, the answer is: We won’t! Sidewalks and driveways are the responsibility of the adjacent property owner per our municipal code. Part of this is due to the city’s capacity. Our staff will be focused on clearing roads, repairing major infrastructure and responding to emergency calls, so we rely on community members to keep their sidewalks and driveways clear. If you have a neighbor who struggles with shoveling snow, please jump in to help.
As for parking spaces and public parking lots — those are the lowest priority for our snowplows. If you’d like to keep parking available in front of your business, you are welcome to shovel the snow out of the way. Please just stay safe and watch for traffic while you do so.
Reporting infrastructure issues
If you experience a power outage or see downed trees or other storm damage during or after a storm, we have an app for easy reporting. SeeClickFix is Ashland’s live citizen reporting tool for non-emergency issues. You can download it from your app store or use our web reporting tool at ashlandoregon.gov/SeeClickFix.
Stay warm, stay safe and enjoy the winter weather ahead!
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Sabrina Cotta is the city manager of Ashland. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Email letters to the editor and Viewpoint submissions to [email protected].
