Baltimore County has declared a state of emergency as the region braces for its first significant winter weather event of the year. Snow arrives Saturday night and will continue into Sunday. In a Jan. 23 press conference, held at the county’s salt dome in Windsor Mill, County Executive Kathy Klausmeier stated that the county is finalizing preparations to keep residents safe.
“All hands are on deck,” said County Executive Katherine Klausmeier, “and we have been working on strategies for the past three days.” Joining her in a show of collaboration were members of the County Council, fire police, transportation, emergency management and other agencies, who presented an overriding message of preparedness and safety. Officials emphasized that residents should be prepared for winter storm hazards with adequate food and water for family and pets, stay inside and off the roads, and look out for family and neighbors.
According to the National Weather Service, the weekend storm is expected to bring heavy snow that could exceed 10 inches in some parts of the county, with a mix of sleet and freezing rain possible. Ice accumulation may also occur.
As a result, the county will activate its Emergency Operations Center, which is staffed by representatives from emergency management, police, fire, public works, health and human services, and communications to ensure a unified response, deployment of resources, and timely public updates.
County Administrative Officer D’Andrea Walker encouraged the public to be patient, while approximately 600 crew members and contractors work long hours and labor-intensive shifts to plow 2,700 miles of county roads and clear 37 miles sidewalks. In addition to roughly 500 pieces of equipment, the county has a total of 91,000 tons of salt stored at 17 locations, along with a full supply of brine.
Crews will be pre-positioned along designated snow routes ahead of the storm to allow for a faster response once conditions deteriorate, particularly during overnight hours or around peak travel times.
The Department of Public Works and Transportation prioritizes plowing on main roads first, followed by feeder roads and then residential streets, said Director Lauren Buckler. During storms producing less than six inches of snow, it generally takes about 24 hours to plow all county roads. For storms exceeding six inches, plowing can take up to 48 hours, she said. The county does not plow or salt state roads, private roads, or alleys.
The department will continue to monitor conditions and will assess whether additional services, including trash and recycling collection, CountyRide, and the Loop circulator bus service, need to be modified or suspended.
Staying Informed and Safe
The county advised that residents can report unplowed streets using the BaltCoGo app online at BaltimoreCountyMd.gov/Stormfighter or call the Bureau of Highways at 410-887-3560. County systems that support police, fire, 911, and public works will remain fully operational, with on-call staffing throughout the storm. For non-emergency assistance in the county, residents can call 410-887-2222 to report issues or get help that does not require an immediate police, fire, or medical response.
In addition, residents should remember the following safety tips:
- Baltimore County law states that sidewalks must be shoveled within 24 hours after a snowstorm. The county relies on reports from the public when sidewalks have not been cleared.
- It’s important to shovel snow onto your own property and not onto public streets.
- Bridges and overpasses typically freeze before roads—approach with caution.
- Use generators, grills, and camp stoves outside, far from windows/doors. Never run generators in garages.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Install CO detectors on every level.
Freezing Weather Shelters
Baltimore County is activating its freezing weather shelters to ensure those experiencing homelessness have access to a safety and warmth.
- Hannah More Family Shelter, 12041 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown
- Family Resource Center, 9150 Franklin Square Drive, Rosedale
- Westside Men’s Shelter, 309 Redwood Circle, Catonsville
Governor Wes Moore declared a State of Emergency for Maryland. https://governor.maryland.gov/news/press/pages/Governor-Moore-Declares-State-of-Emergency,-Requests-Federal-Emergency-Declaration-Ahead-of-Dangerous-Winter-Storm.aspx
See a list of county resources at https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/county-executive/news/baltimore-county-winter-storm-information-assistance
