Snow Emergency Plans Being Implemented In Some Counties Ahead Of Storm

(PIKESVILLE, MD) – As part of the state’s coordinated response to the impending snowstorm, Maryland State Police are implementing the snow emergency plans in several counties ahead of the storm to enable immediate removal of abandoned vehicles from state roads and highways.

At 3:00 p.m. today, the snow emergency plan is being implemented in the following counties: Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Harford, Cecil, Frederick and Washington. The snow emergency plan applies to any state highway designated by the MDOT State Highway Administration as a ‘snow emergency route.’

Declaration of a snow emergency means a person may not park a vehicle on any snow emergency route. Any vehicle parked along a snow emergency route may be removed by police or state highway personnel immediately.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. today, MDOT State Highway Administration personnel will begin towing any abandoned vehicles from the shoulders of snow emergency routes in the counties identified above. Towed vehicles will be taken to designated locations in each county. Any vehicle abandoned during the storm will also be towed as soon as possible.

Vehicle owners who have a vehicle towed from a state road or highway should contact the State Highway Administration at 410-582-5650, or contact the State Police barrack in the area where their vehicle was towed from for information regarding the vehicle location. Barrack locations and phone numbers can be found at

http://mdsp.maryland.gov/Organization/Pages/FieldOperationsBureau/allbarracks.aspx.

Citizens are being advised to stay off the roads during the storm. This reduces personal risk, the potential need for a law enforcement response and enables highway crews to remove the snow much quicker.

Road conditions will be available at md511.org or by safely dialing 511. A list of emergency parking sites for commercial vehicles and other important highway information can be found atroads.maryland.gov. Citizens are urged not to contact State Police barracks directly just to check road conditions, so personnel can more effectively respond to calls for emergency assistance.