Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents criticize 311, plowing and storm response; council promises review and task force
Summary
After a severe storm residents told the Prince George's County Council about long 311 hold times, blocked cul-de-sacs and missed trash and emergency services; council members said they will convene oversight meetings, form a task force and pursue regional best practices.
Residents who spoke at the Glenarden listening session described a cascade of service failures during the recent storm: long 311 hold times, neighborhoods trapped by uncleared cul-de-sacs, missed trash pickups and delayed emergency access.
A speaker who identified herself as a former director of the Office of Community Relations said the county's call-center response degraded during the storm: "Residents spent 40 minutes to 2 hours on hold until the system was temporarily shut down," she said. The speaker urged improved intake systems and pre-vetted emergency contact processes.
Multiple commenters recommended concrete improvements to the county's 311 system, including status updates ("in progress," "assigned") and stronger metrics so residents can escalate emergencies. Milan Williams, a District 5 resident, suggested app functionality that shows assignment and response progress to help prioritize cul-de-sacs and vulnerable residents.
Councilmembers acknowledged gaps and described immediate and longer-term steps. Chair Crystal Oriada said the council will exercise oversight and work with the county executive on a post-storm review. Councilmembers described plans for a county task force and regional benchmarking; "we're going to have a meeting with the Department of Public Works and Transportation to see what their plan is," Oriada said. Members also discussed options such as hauling ice to warming locations, procuring additional equipment and establishing community-partner briefings.
On budgeting and accountability, Oriada noted the county's fiscal context and said the earlier $174 million projected deficit had narrowed to about $58 million, which affects what can be funded immediately. Councilmembers said committees will hold hearings where departments will present after-action reports and that constituent services offices will assist residents with specific street-level issues.
The listening session produced no formal action votes but council members said they will pursue oversight briefings, a task force and technology changes to the 311 system as next steps.
