Alexandria manager calls storm ‘equivalent of a natural disaster,’ outlines ongoing snow recovery
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Summary
City Manager told council the late-January storm required an unusually intensive response — over 9,000 tons of ice hauled and more than 500 staff deployed — and warned recovery will continue for weeks as crews focus on lanes, sidewalks and drainage.
City Manager said the recent winter event was extraordinary and that recovery work is ongoing. “We this was the equivalent of a natural disaster,” the manager told council during the Feb. 1 meeting, describing prolonged freezing rain following about seven inches of snow and the need for specialized equipment and manual removal.
The manager provided multiple operational figures to illustrate the scale of the response: more than 9,000 tons of ice hauled, over 1,000 dump-truck loads removed, more than 500 city staff across 11 departments working on the event and eight private contractors employing roughly 200 contracted staff. He said crews have completed many primary routes but continue to focus on widening lanes, clearing curb ramps and improving pedestrian visibility at key intersections.
Council members pressed staff on practical effects and next steps. Councilman Chapman asked about options for emergency parking and noted the particular strain on neighborhoods that lack off-street parking; Deputy City Manager Emily Baker and staff said public-right-of-way sidewalk maps in the GIS system can distinguish public from private sidewalks and that the city will work with the landlord-tenant office on apartment-property issues. The manager said the city will publish an after-action report with lessons learned once recovery is complete.
Staff also discussed customer service metrics: the city received more than 800 snow-related 311 requests, of which roughly 60% were cleared, about 26% were on hold for further clarification or coordination, and approximately 15% remain open and need additional review. The manager said enforcement activity has included large numbers of warnings and three citations so far, primarily at commercial properties.
Looking ahead, the manager said the city will prioritize school zones and transit corridors, continue clearing trails and sidewalks, and work on drainage to avoid flooding when the thaw begins. He urged patience while crews complete manual ice-breaking work that cannot be done with normal plow equipment.
The council did not take any legislative action tied to the report; it requested follow-up materials, public guidance about rights and complaint routes for renters and apartment tenants, and the after-action report that staff said will come once work is complete.
