DC Public Schools Closed on Tuesday, January 7, DC Government to Open at 10AM

(Washington, DC) – This evening, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 7. The District has received 6-8 inches of snow, with some areas reporting up to 9 inches. An additional 1-2 inches is expected tonight before snow tapers off between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Winds will increase after midnight, with gusts up to 35 mph. Temperatures will remain well below freezing tonight, leading to a high risk of refreezing on roads and sidewalks overnight into Tuesday morning. Visibility will improve tomorrow, with a mix of sun and clouds early, becoming mostly sunny by late afternoon.

The District’s snow emergency and cold weather emergency remain activated. Residents who need to travel should travel with caution and not crowd plows as salting and plowing operations continue.

The snow emergency will remain in effect through Tuesday, January 7. While the snow emergency is in effect, motorists may not park on snow emergency routes and vehicles parked on these routes may be towed. Find a map of the snow emergency routes at snow.dc.gov. To learn where a vehicle has been towed, call the Towed Vehicle Locator office at 202-541-6083, or go to dpw.dc.gov/page/booting-and-impoundment.

DC Government will open at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7.

On Tuesday, DPW will resume trash, recycling, and food waste collection on a one-day slide schedule; however, residents may experience delays due to the amount of ice and snow in some alleys. Where possible, DPW collections teams will navigate alleys on foot to collect trash and recycling. Residents with a Monday pickup day should put their trash, recycling, and food waste out for Tuesday pickup. DPW will work throughout the week to restore normal collection operations as quickly as possible. As DPW continues to wind down snow operations, the residential drop off ramp at Fort Totten Transfer Station will remain closed. Leaf collection remains suspended.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to register for important weather alerts from the District by signing up for AlertDC at alert.dc.gov.

Cold Weather Emergency and Shelters

During a Cold Weather Emergency, the District provides additional services and supports to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injuries associated with severe cold weather. Extended outreach to vulnerable residents is underway to assist unsheltered and vulnerable residents with accessing shelters, warming buses and other resources.

Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and to help neighbors experiencing homelessness in need of shelter by calling the Shelter Hotline. To request free, accessible transportation for yourself or someone else, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or by dialing 311. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911.
 
The following shelter locations are open:
 
Shelters for Women  

• Harriet Tubman – 1910 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
• Pat Handy – 810 5th Street, NW
• St. Josephine Bakhita – 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW (7pm-7am only)
• Eve’s Place – 2210B Adams Place, NE
• 11th Street Swing Space – 1009 11th Street, NW
• CCNV-2 South – 425 2nd Street, NW
• KBEC Family Life Center – 4100 South Capitol Street, SE

Shelters for Men  

• 801 East Men’s Shelter and Overflow – 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue, SE
• Adams Place – 2210 Adams Place, NE
• Emery Shelter and Overflow – 1725 Lincoln Road, NE  
• New York Avenue Men’s Shelter – 1355 New York Avenue, NE
• Federal City-1 North and Drop-In Center – 425 2nd Street, NW
• Church of the Epiphany – 1317 G Street, NW (7pm -7 am only)
• Salvation Army – 3335 Sherman Avenue, NW     

Shelter for LGBTQ+  

• Living Life Alternatives – 400 50th Street, SE  

Families seeking emergency shelter can call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.

For animal abuse or neglect, including pets left outdoors in extreme weather, call the Humane Rescue Alliance at 202-723-5730. For other animal control and wildlife services, call the Brandywine SPCA at 202-888-7387.

Residential Snow Clearing
Residential property owners who are not enrolled in the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event. ServeDC urges residents to volunteer to clear sidewalks for senior residents and those with access and functional needs through the DC Volunteer Snow Team. Residents can register for the DC Volunteer Snow Team here.

Businesses and Streateries
Commercial property owners are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event. DPW recommends that restaurant owners along the treated routes bring in all furniture and other elements within the outdoor dining areas, except for the barriers. Failure to do so may result in damage to the furniture or other streatery materials.

Business owners should clear their sidewalks, parklets, and streateries of snow within eight daylight hours of the storm’s end. Business owner/permit holders are responsible for clearing out all snow within the outdoor dining area and ensuring sidewalks are accessible.

Safety and Preparedness Tips  

• Stay inside if you can. Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
• Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.
• Find your snow shovel and make sure it is adequate for another snow season. 
• Check and apply your supply of abrasives – deicer, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter – and get more if necessary.
• Avoid driving during the worst part of the storm. If possible, only travel during daylight hours, don’t travel alone, and stay on main roads instead of taking shortcuts.  
• Have enough over-the-counter and prescription medications for your family and pets.  
• Make sure your gutters are cleared of leaves. Call 311 to report clogged storm drains/catch basins and other non-emergency hazards or damage. 
• Keep your vehicle’s fluids tanks – gas, water, antifreeze and windshield wiper – full.  
• Have a flashlight, blankets, and scrapers in your vehicle before a storm begins.  
• Install a battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector in your home and/or replace the batteries in existing devices.  
• Do not use a gas oven, generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline burning device inside your home, basement, or garage.  
• Avoid frozen pipes by allowing a small trickle of water to run through the pipes.

The District Snow Team will continue to monitor the weather forecast and adjust its response as necessary. For more information about DC’s snow program and preparing for winter weather, visit snow.dc.gov.

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