North Shore Municipalities remind residents to be snow-ready

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

West Vancouver, B.C.  The North Shore can expect a colder than average winter, thanks to the ongoing effects of La Nina. Your North Shore municipalities would like to remind residents to be prepared for all types of adverse weather.

What to do before the snow hits

  • Prepare for an emergency. Keep an emergency kit and supplies in your home, office and car. Visit the North Shore Emergency Management Office website at www.nsemo.org, or call 604-969-7000 to find out more about personal emergency preparedness and for information on free emergency preparedness workshops. 
  • Stock up on food supplies and ensure that your prescriptions are filled. 
  • Note the locations of fire hydrants and catch basins around your property. 
  • Purchase and install quality snow tires. Tune up your vehicle for winter driving. 
  • Keep a shovel and supply of salt handy for sidewalks and driveways.

When it snows

  • Drive only if necessary. Public transit is a good alternative. 
  • Park in your driveway, not on the street (very important). This will allow snow ploughs and salt spreaders the room required to safely clear the street. This is particularly important on cul-de-sacs and narrow roadways. 
  • Observe posted signs that may restrict on-street parking in some areas during periods of heavy snowfall.
  • Do not abandon your car if it gets stuck. Illegally parked cars that hamper snow clearing may be ticketed and/or towed.
  • Remove snow from your sidewalk and away from fire hydrants and catch basins. 
  • Check in on neighbours and family members who may need some extra assistance.

Municipal services may be affected when it snows

  • In the event of hazardous road conditions due to snow and ice, it may be necessary to suspend garbage, green waste and recycling collection in some or all parts of the North Shore. Check your municipal website for more information specific to your community.

Schools can also be affected by heavy snowfall

In the event of a major snowfall, local area schools may be closed. Please check the following websites during a snow event for more information regarding possible school closures:

Your municipality is prepared

Local municipalities monitor road and weather conditions throughout the winter months. When snow and icy conditions are forecast, crews and equipment are dispatched to clear roads on a priority basis.

First priority for municipal crews, during and after a snowfall, is to clear the major arterial streets, as well as bus routes, bus stops, and access to emergency services (e.g. fire halls, ambulance stations and hospital). The second priority is to clear collector streets and routes leading to schools. Once conditions have stabilized on first and second priority routes, crews will begin to clear local streets. Local streets are not ploughed immediately during a snow event. In the event of continual snowfall, it may take longer than normal for ploughs to reach local streets as first and second priority streets will require additional attention.

Stay informed

Check your municipal website for further information:

District of North Vancouver: www.dnv.org/snow

City of North Vancouver: www.cnv.org/snowready 

District of West Vancouver: www.westvancouver.ca/snowremoval

For more information contact:

District of North Vancouver Communications: 604-990-2459
City of North Vancouver Communications:  604-983-7383
District of West Vancouver Communications: 604-925-4736