Annapolis officials review snow response after Jan. 6 storm; cite residential ice, sidewalk clearing and communications gaps

Kevin Simmons, emergency manager for the City of Annapolis, and city public works and public information officials told the Annapolis City Council on Feb. 27 that the city’s response to the Jan. 6 snowstorm successfully kept major routes clear but left residential streets and sidewalks with hard-packed snow and ice for days.

“We're talking snow today,” Simmons said, giving an overview of the event. “Annapolis received a total of 9.5 inches of snow, the most snowfall we saw in a 24 hour period since January 22.” He added that the storm was accompanied by extended extreme cold, with temperatures dropping to 25 degrees and wind chills near 17 degrees.

The presentation to the council reviewed the city’s preparedness, response and recovery timeline, and identified operational changes already implemented and others the city will pursue. The city activated its emergency operations center on Jan. 3, placed about 200 residents on a special-assistance roster and ran a 24/7 call center and warming-center operations during the event. Government offices were closed on Jan. 6 and delayed the following day.

City officials said the response cleared emergency routes and connectors to the city’s stated benchmarks but that…