Details about the city’s state of emergency

Here are more details about the state of emergency Mayor James has just declared:

City of Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Sly James has declared a state of emergency in response to extreme winter weather that is challenging the City’s snow removal and emergency response activities. This declaration makes it possible to fully access all possible resources and minimize the storms impact on residents.

City crews are continuing to respond to the blizzard weather conditions in the metro area. There are currently 250 snow plows in operation on primary and arterial routes.

The City requests that residents minimize travel during this weather event in order to allow snow removal crews and emergency responders greater ability to perform duties.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center is activated at a level two, and personnel representing key City departments, as well as KCPL, are present and working together to monitor the event and coordinate activities among City departments providing snow and ice removal and emergency responders from the Police and Fire departments.

Emergency shelters

Nine of the ten City’s Parks and Recreation Department Community Centers will be open during normal business hours to serve as warming centers. Please call to confirm the centers are open.

Driving and parking

Phases I and II of the City’s Snow Ordinance remain in effect. As outlined in the Snow Ordinance, motorists parked on assigned Emergency Snow Routes face the possibility of vehicles being ticketed or towed. Vehicles without adequate tire tread that get stuck on a major thoroughfare can also be ticketed.

In residential areas, motorists are asked to park vehicles off-street if possible. If a vehicle must park on-street, the following parking practice is being requested:

-On streets that run north/south, please park on the west side of the street.

-On streets that run east/west, please park on the north side of the street.

Parking vehicles off-street during snow plow operations greatly enhances the ability of snow plows to remove snow, especially in cul-de-sacs, dead ends and narrow streets. When on-street parking obstructs the ability of a snow plow to safely proceed, it is possible that the street will be skipped.

Utilities

The City has been informed that KCP&L crews have been placed on standby alert and additional restoration materials have been staged at various locations throughout their service territory. If power outages occur as a result of this storm, these crews will be called upon to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible.

Plowing

Residents wanting to report slick spots or missed streets are advised that while crews are running assigned snow routes, it is assumed that all streets are slick. Only after all snow routes have been run does the City’s 3-1-1 Action Center accept requests for slick spots and missed streets. Given the weather forecast, it is anticipated that this will be at least 36 hours after snow has stopped falling.

Fallen tree limbs

Requests for removal of tree limbs from the rights-of-way should be directed to the 3-1-1 City Action Center, at 311 or 816-513-1313.