January 16 4pm update: Public Works crews have been salting and sanding since the snow started falling right before noon and are turning their efforts to plowing the primary roads. Please continue to stay off the roadways so our crews can do their jobs safely for everyone. Accidents have been occurring and the roads are slippery. Stay safe!
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – January 15, 2022 at 12 noon: Our Public Works road crews are pre-treating the primary and secondary roads with salt and brine throughout the day and evening. They also plan to treat many side streets with the brine mixture. Please watch for the trucks and stay a safe traveling distance behind them as they work to prepare for Sunday, January 16th forecasted winter storm. VDOT crews began treating area roads yesterday and will be continuing to mobilize crews in our area to be ready to begin plowing and treating the main roads as soon as snow begins to accumulate.
We are continuing to monitor the track of the storm, along with the timing, type of precipitation, and amounts of the precipitation. Right now, it is forecasted that the event will start as a freezing rain event just before noon on Sunday, transition to an all snow event, and end as a rain event with total snow accumulations to be 2-4 inches. There will also be a period of wind gust 20-25mph starting Sunday evening and going through Monday night. We understand that there are many outlets to get weather information, and we use the NWS, NOAA and the Weather Channel to provide you with the most up to date and reliable information.
This is a good time to make sure your Emergency Kit is in good order, and you have a supply of bottled water and ready to eat meals in the event there are power outages. Dominion Energy has been engaged with us and are taking the necessary actions to mobilize crews. During times of severe weather, our 911 center is often inundated with non-life threatening calls regarding utilities. Please keep the following numbers close by to contact your appropriate utility company if you have a need for them during the storm, as this will help ease the burden on our 911 Dispatchers to allow them to process emergency calls for the City:
- Columbia Gas: 800-544-5606
- Dominion Power: 866-366-4357
- Verizon Phone and FiOS: 800-837-4966
- Comcast Cable: 800-934-6489
- Cox Cable: 844-232-9646
We ask drivers to refrain from traveling on roads unless absolutely essential during the height of the storm so our plow and road treatment teams can safely keep the roads open for our safety personnel. The sooner they can plow, salt and sand the streets, the more quickly the roads will be safer for everyone’s travel needs.
Our Fire Department has opened a virtual Emergency Operations Center that will be maintained 24/7 by storm team staff until the storm and cleanup is complete.
Dominion Energy teams are stationing in key areas and will be ready to mobilize and start repairing any power outages as needed.
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