There’s a small chance of snow in Southern Maryland this weekend, much to the delight of snow lovers and the chagrin of snow haters. Whether the forecast holds for Saturday remains to be seen, but you can be sure that at some point this winter, Southern Maryland will see snow. From road conditions to closures, here’s where you can find the vital information you need when a storm hits.
Road Conditions
Local municipalities have a schedule for clearing roads when a major storm hits Southern Maryland. Larger roads are plowed before smaller neighborhood roads. Knowing when your street will be cleared can help ease frustration.
Calvert County’s Highway Maintenance Division handles snow removal in that county. If you have questions contact the division at http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=584.
In Charles County, the Department of Public Works has developed a schedule to help residents figure out when roads will be cleared. You can learn how the county approaches snow removal and get tips for preparing for a storm at the snow removal area of its website.
St. Mary’s County’s Department of Public Works and Transportation offers residents an online map that is updated as plows progress through the county. Updated every 15 minutes, the map lets residents see what has been treated and what has been done to the roads.
The state of Maryland is also responsible for snow removal on certain roads throughout the state and Southern Maryland. To see what the state plows, visit the Department of Transportation’s website. You can even see a list of state-maintained roads in each county.
School Status
While you’re worried about the roads, your kids are worried about one thing: Is it a snow day?
The public school districts in Southern Maryland will post status updates on their websites and social media. Find them here:
Calvert County
Website: http://www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Calvert-County-Public-Schools-1456272534700834/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/calvertnet
Charles County
Website: http://www.ccboe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlesCountyPublicSchools/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCPS
St. Mary’s County
Website: http://www.smcps.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smcps.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smcps_md
Many private schools follow the public schools’ decisions on closures and delays, though you’ll want to check with your child’s school for specifics. You can follow local media outlets for the latest information on closures and delays. You’ll also find college and daycare closures here, too.
Southern Maryland Online: http://somd.com/education/closings/
The BayNet: http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0215/closings-and-delays-.html
WTOP: http://wtop.com/closings-and-delays/
News Channel 4: http://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/school-closings/
Is your college closed? Southern Maryland colleges will announce their statuses here:
College of Southern Maryland: http://ready.csmd.edu/emergency.html
St. Mary’s College of Maryland: http://www.smcm.edu/tothepoint/inclement-weather/
Government Closures
If your job is related to a government agency, you’ll want to know whether you need to make the trek into DC. The Office of Personnel Management will announce closures and delays on its status website.
County government employees will find updates on local media as well as at county websites and Facebook pages:
Calvert County
Website: http://www.co.cal.md.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Calvert-County-Government-Calvert-County-Maryland-251501561757/
Charles County
Website: http://www.charlescountymd.gov/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlesCounty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlesCoMD
St. Mary’s County
Website: http://www.co.saint-marys.md.us/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarysCountyGovernment
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StMarysCoGov
Sidewalks
Governments are largely responsible for the roads, but who maintains the sidewalks? In most cases, the answer is YOU, the resident or business owner. Find the specifics for each county below:
Calvert County: http://www.co.cal.md.us/DocumentCenter/View/10725
Charles County: https://www.charlescountymd.gov/pw/roads/snow-removal-when-it-snows
St. Mary’s County: http://somd.com/news/headlines/2015/19732.php
Emergency Notifications
Stay on top of weather and other emergencies with the alert systems active in each county.
Residents of Calvert County can download the Prepare Me Calvert app or sign up for email, text, or telephone alerts through the Calvert County Alert Program. Learn more at http://www.co.cal.md.us/index.aspx?NID=2001.
In Charles County, residents can sign up for the Citizen Notification System to get closures and other emergency information via email or text message. For more information, visit http://www.charlescountymd.gov/CNS.
Those who live in St. Mary’s County can sign up for the CodeRed telephone alert system to be notified in case of emergency. Find out more at http://www.stmarysmd.com/emergencycodered.asp.
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