Immediately upon seeing out first flakes of snow while
driving home on I-270 from Fairfax Virginia just after midnight, Monday
morning, Jan. 18, 2016; Caroline and I remained calm – but immediately declared
a “Code French Toast.” (The bridges were very icy…)
However, inconvenience struck quickly as all the grocery
stores in Westminster were closed by around 1:45 a.m. We settled-upon the
7-Eleven at the corner of Rte. 140 and Center Street, and retreated to our house.
Later on Tuesday, I once again ventured forth in search of
wild, free-range carrots and all the necessities to make “Maryland Snowmageddon
Snowpocalypse French Toast” at the local Safeway – before mania and hysteria
struck.
We are now settled-in fully prepared for the end of days as snowflakes
conspire to descent upon Maryland. May God save us – and God Save the Queen.
+++++
Maryland State Police: Caution Urged As Snow Storm Moves In
(Pikesville, MD) – Maryland State Police are urging drivers
to use caution and think twice before heading out this weekend due to the
potential snow storm.
Here are recommendations from state troopers:
Stay home this weekend unless the nature of your employment
requires you to travel (emergency responder, medical profession, snow removal
etc.);
Maryland State Police will begin towing vehicles currently
abandoned more than 24 hours prior to the storms arrival;
Once the snow emergency plan is put in place for a
particular county, abandoned vehicles will be towed immediately;
If you have to drive, ensure you are driving a vehicle
equipped for snow travel;
Don’t abandon your vehicle on a snow emergency route
(interstate, MD or US route) without notifying Maryland State Police or the
police agency responsible for that particular roadway;
If you have called a private tow to remove your vehicle, let
Maryland State Police know so we don’t dispatch resources to have it removed;
If you have an accident, move your vehicle out of the travel
portion of the roadway if possible and contact Maryland State Police;
Give snow plows room to work and do not try to pass a plow
train;
If your vehicle is towed, contact the barrack or local
police agency where it was abandoned with a full description (make, model,
tag number and exact location) so the towing company information can be
provided to you for pickup;
“For this snow storm, drivers should make informed decisions
before they leave home because once you are on the highway, it may be too late
to change your mind,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel William M.
Pallozzi said. “Make every effort to say off the highways if at all possible
during the snow storm. Troopers are ready to address traffic crashes and delays
and will be working in coordination with the State Highway Administration,
Maryland Emergency Management Agency and other related agencies.”
Drivers can take advantage of the live traffic cameras made
available by the State Highway Administration. The traffic cameras are
positioned at various locations throughout Maryland and can give drivers
important information about their route of travel before leaving. The
cameras and other real-time traffic information can be found by visiting
www.roads.maryland.gov and
clicking on “commuter” and then clicking on “live traffic.” Additional
information concerning road conditions can be obtained on line at
www.511md.org or by calling 5-1-1.
Citizens are urged not to call Maryland State Police barrack
to simply check on road conditions. Calls to police or 9-1-1 centers during the
storm should be for emergency situations only.
Troopers will again be working with State Highway
Administration’s Coordinated Highway Action Response Team and tow companies
throughout the state to remove abandoned vehicles so that snow removal
operations can be efficiently conducted. When snow emergency plans are placed
into effect, motorists are not permitted to park on the shoulders of an
interstate or state highway and vehicles left there will be towed.
Motorists whose vehicles are towed from an interstate or a
state highway by State Police can determine where their vehicles were taken by
contacting the Maryland State Police barrack in the county where they abandoned
their vehicles. A complete list of barracks can be found at the Maryland State
Police website at
www.mdsp.maryland.gov .
Commercial vehicles are invited to wait out the storm at one of the Maryland
State Police scale house parking lots that will be available overnight. These
locations are also available on the State Police website at
http://mdsp.maryland.gov/Organization/Pages/InspectionFacilities.aspx.
