News Release - Mayor Warren Provides Storm Clean-Up Update

City of Rochester

News Release


(Thursday, March 16, 2017) – The City of Rochester asks for citizens’ continued assistance and cooperation as clean-up from the snowstorm continues.

“I would like to thank all of our citizens for their cooperation, strength and generosity over the past week,” Mayor Lovely A. Warren said. “Mother Nature decided to test us, and once again our city proved its resiliency and ability to come together in the wake of great challenges. I would like to recognize our team at the Department of Environmental Services. After the city saw almost 30 inches of snow in 48 hours, they worked through the night to make sure Rochester was open for business this morning. I would also like to thank our first responders, 911 and 311 operators, and everyone else who weathered the storm to keep our families safe.”

Throughout the storm City crews did five residential runs, three sidewalk runs and continually plowed the arterials. The City is continuing to clear streets, particularly those that are hard to plow. It is critical that residents dig out their cars to facilitate the loading and hauling of snow.

As clean-up continues, Mayor Warren would like to remind residents of the following:

  • R-Centers and libraries will be open normal hours today. The Red Cross shelter at the Gantt R-Center is now closed. It served 150 people throughout the storm.
  • Refuse pickup resumed this morning. It has been delayed by one day. Citizens are asked to put bins either at the edge of their driveways or on a cleared area on the curb, not in the street or sidewalk or on top of a snow mound.
  • To help our snow plows and clean-up crews do their jobs effectively, we ask citizens to continue to pay special attention to alternate side parking rules and to avoid shoveling or plowing snow into the street or sidewalk. Please also help the Fire Department by shoveling out hydrants; and avoid shoveling or plowing snow onto streets and sidewalks – this is a great impediment to plow crews, motorists and pedestrians.
  • We ask resident to continue to exercise caution while out on the roads.
  • The City is working in partnership with the Center for Disability Rights to encourage residents to keep sidewalks clear in front of their homes or businesses. While the City does provide sidewalk plowing in heavy snow, we still ask for help from our citizens so pedestrians – particularly those with disabilities – can have safe passage.

More information on snow removal can be found on the City’s website at www.cityofrochester.gov/rocsnow.

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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.