Winter Storm Update from Eugene Public Works

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News Release March 21, 2012, 4:15 p.m. Contact: Eric Jones, Eugene Public Works Public Affairs Manager, 541-954-2938 For Immediate Release Winter Storm Update from Eugene Public Works The top priority for Eugene Public Works remains clearing streets and removing down trees following a late winter storm that slammed into Eugene early this morning, dumping more than six inches of heavy wet snow on the area. Snow and ice, turning to deep slush in many lower-elevation locations, continues to make driving treacherous. Primary routes have been plowed. However, packed slush has blocked many catch basins, causing localized flooding. Many residential streets, particularly in the higher elevations, have not been plowed and remain slippery. Public Works crews also are dealing with hundreds of trees and limbs blocking streets and breaking power lines. Using a maintenance management system, emergency management staff is mapping and prioritizing tree calls, focusing on main thoroughfares and situations involving potentially live power lines. Facts and Figures  Number of service requests received: 513  Tree related calls: 399 (117 tree service requests completed as of 3:40 p.m.)  Snow and ice calls: 114  Status of ice-snow removal: all priority one routes have been plowed. Crews are now working on priority two and priority three routes. Today’s Response from Eugene Public Works  13 tree crews and five surface maintenance crews on sanding and plowing duties.  Activation of the Public Works Emergency Command Center at 3 a.m.  At approximately 10:30 a.m., the Center for Public Inquiry was opened at the Public Works offices on Roosevelt Boulevard to help reduce the call load at 9-1-1.  Beginning at 6 p.m., calls will be rerouted to normal lines: 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies o 541-682-4800 for Public Works calls (including streets, storm drains, parks, trees) o 541-484-2300 for EWEB power-outage reporting hotline o Ongoing Plans  Tree and snow-removal crews scheduled to work through the night. Public Works will reassess conditions tomorrow and assign crews as needed. Outlook  Possibility of additional snow, particularly in the higher elevations.  Sanding and plowing crews will continue to prioritize arterial and collector routes and respond to accumulations on local streets, particularly in higher elevations, as resources allow.  Reminder that an ice-snow emergency remains in effort; do not park or leave vehicles on priority routes (see www.eugene-or.gov/snow for more information about priority routes and parking restrictions).