MANCHESTER, NH – As snow moved in to New Hampshire early Wednesday, schools were planning early dismissal, preplanned due to advance warning about the city’s first snowstorm of the year.
Gov. Maggie Hassan released a statement (see below) directing all non-emergency state personnel to leave their offices by 3 p.m. in the interest of public safety.
Although the city’s Winter Parking ordinance does not go into effect until Dec. 1, Public Works Director Kevin Sheppard said the city will do its best to keep roadways clear.
“No snow emergency has been called – for now, although that’s always subject to change, but the Weather Service is calling for up to eight inches, and with the holiday and visitors coming to the city, we’ve decided not to call for a snow emergency, but rather to ask residents to try and keep cars off the streets to allow our operators to clear snow,” Sheppard said. “It will be difficult for our trucks if people park on the streets – we’re hoping the public will help us out.”
Crews were already deployed and putting salt down on city streets, Sheppard said.
“We’re hoping the storm ends soon after midnight, and we can get the streets cleared up in the morning,” Sheppard said.
What you need to know
During a snow emergency, parking is not allowed on city streets between 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Earlier start times and later end times may be set during unusually heavy storms.
Any vehicle parked in violation of a snow emergency declaration will be removed and impounded. Vehicles removed from the streets will be stored in Derryfield Park off Bridge Street. In order to recover an impounded vehicle, the owner will be required to present proof of ownership and to make a payment of $110 in cash only. This must be done within 24-hours of the time when the vehicle was towed. Vehicles not recovered within 24 hours, will be subject to additional towing and storage charges.
The City Parking Authority has two locations available for parking during snow emergencies. The first location is the Victory Parking Garage located at Chestnut and Amherst Street. During snow emergencies, city residents that do not have off street parking can park for free in the garage from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Note that there are a limited number of spaces available for snow emergency parking in the garage. The second location is the Pearl Street Parking Lot. This lot is open for snow emergency parking from 5:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.
A snow emergency is called to allow city crews to plow the full width of the streets, therefore allowing access for emergency vehicles as well as parking once the Snow Emergency has ended.
Manchester’s overnight winter on-street odd/even parking ordinance (71.13) goes into effect December 1 at 1 a.m. and runs through April 15.
By ordinance, where parking is normally allowed on a street, the Overnight Winter Parking Ordinance permits vehicles to be parked only on the odd numbered side of a street on odd numbered calendar days, and only on the even numbered side of a street on even numbered calendar days beginning after 1 a.m. and until 6 a.m. This means that when you park your car on the evening of November 30, it should be parked on the odd side of the street, because it will be an odd day (1st) as of 1:01 a.m. If parking is presently allowed on only one side of the street during the day, then parking will be permitted on that side of the street every night. No overnight parking is permitted on the circular portion of dead-end cul-de-sacs. Those in violation of this ordinance will be subject to a $25 fine.
The following statement was released Nov. 26 by Gov. Maggie Hassan:
Ahead of today’s impending snowstorm that is expected to produce the first significant snowfall of the season, Governor Maggie Hassan today released the following statement:
“As this storm will take place with many travelling on our roads for the Thanksgiving holiday, I strongly encourage all travelers to take every precaution on the roads and follow all traffic and safety alerts,” Governor Hassan said. “Public safety and emergency management officials are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to support local communities and provide updates as needed. As we work throughout the storm with Department of Transportation and Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials, I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.”
Given that Emergency Management is anticipating that the peak of today’s snow storm will be between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., combined with the heavier-than-normal traffic anticipated because of the Thanksgiving Holiday, Governor Hassan has directed that non-emergency/life-safety state personnel be released today at 3 p.m.
In advance of the storm, the Department of Transportation is encouraging New Hampshire residents to take the following precautions:
• Leave extra time to get to destinations.
• Allow safe driving distances between vehicles.
• Anticipate reduced speeds.
• Keep vehicle fuel tanks at least half full.Additional information, including safety and preparedness tips, is available at www.nh.gov/readynh/.
