FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2021

MEDIA CONTACTS

Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

City Prepares to Deploy Snow Fleet Across Tacoma

Snow is in the forecast from early Thursday, February 11, through Sunday, February 14, with accumulations estimated between four to six inches. The City of Tacoma’s Street Operations Division is deploying 12 snow plows, 4 sanding trucks, and 3 de-icing trucks throughout Tacoma starting the early morning of Thursday, February 11, and will continue snow operations throughout the storm event.

During a snowstorm event, City crews plow and de-ice streets on a priority level, beginning with primary arterial streets, followed by secondary and auxiliary routes. The time required to clear these routes depends on the intensity and severity of the snowstorm. City crews do not plow and or de-ice residential streets.

Residents can prepare for winter weather by:

• Equipping vehicles with good tires, windshield wipers, chains, sand, and emergency supplies.
• Researching public transportation options.
• Planning driving routes and organizing them by primary, secondary, and then auxiliary routes as outlined on the City’s snow routes map.
• For those living on a hill or somewhere difficult to access in the snow, look for a flat place to legally park your vehicle on nights when snow is forecasted. Also, choose a location where putting on chains can be done safely.
• For those who live or work on a primary, secondary, or auxiliary snow plow route, look for an adjacent flat street to legally park your vehicle. Doing so will prevent vehicles from getting covered or blocked in by plowed snow and will make it easier for crews to safely plow city streets.

For more information on winter preparedness, to view a list of street closures due to weather, and to view the snow routes map, visit cityoftacoma.org/inclementweather.

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