Falls Officials Explain Process Of A Snow Emergency

From the looks of emails, conversations and posts on social media, many within the area are confused when their township declares a “snow emergency.”

Falls Township officials met in front of a sparse crowd Tuesday night to break down for residents across the board what it means when you’re under a snow emergency.

While a snow emergency may have a frightening title, it’s mainly declared for safety.

It’s a declaration made by a cooperative and collaborative effort among road crews, fire, police, and EMS to gauge the upcoming weather conditions and issue a snow emergency proclamation when necessary.

In short, Falls Township Fire Marshal Rich Dippolito said, “it’s so we can assist the road crew with access down every road.”

Snow emergencies are declared so that township residents will move their cars off all township roads, allowing for an ease of access to fire trucks, police, plows, and emergency personnel.

“We try and call it early so people have time to move [their car] before the storm comes,” said Dippolito.

While some resident’s complain that their neighbors always have their cars in the street during storms, police aren’t worried unless it’s “in the way.” “We move the cars on an as needed basis, if it’s in the way, if you don’t cooperate then you get ticketed, if you don’t move it, then we have the right to,” stated Dippolito.

Falls, which according to officials, “has no incentive” to tow cars, often faces some sticky situations when residents don’t follow the ordinance.

Sgt. Ray Finelli spoke of a medical emergency when resident’s hadn’t moved their cars off the roadway. Trying to fit ambulance’s, fire trucks and emergency personnel down a road proved to be tricky and messy, he said.

According to Falls Township Public Works, most of the complaints don’t come in until after the plowing job is done. A job, according to foreman Joe Arnao, that usually takes 8-10 hours after the snow stops falling.

“There’s a lot that goes into it, a lot of preparing before it even gets here,” he said. “We try not to get out too early or too late, for the most part I think we do pretty well.”

The township is only responsible for township roads, even though some residents complain that roads like New Falls or Tyburn aren’t plowed, they are state roads, Chairman Bob Harvie said.

“Main roads in and out of the sections are plowed first, then side streets, then the dead ends and cul-de-sacs,” Arnao said. “We try to always rotate our routes so no one ever feels like they are last.”

When accounting for breakdowns, vehicle tows, and breaks for it’s workers over what can be a 16 hour day, Arnao said the job proves tricky.

While the ordinance and declaration simply means residents need to move their cars, when they don’t they cause backups for police and plows alike. Trying to fit a 10 foot plow down a 26 foot road with 8 foot cars on both sides can make a difficult job, even worse.