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Snow Events
Click here for a printable version of what you need to know when it snows
Snowplow priorities
- Emergency roads
- Main roads
- Secondary roads and cul-de-sacs
When a snow emergency plan is in effect
- Vehicles traveling on the roads must be equipped with snow or all-weather radial tires or chains.
- No parking is permitted along designated snow emergency routes.
County-maintained roads exclude:
- State roads (numbers routes e.g. Interstate 95, MD Route 543/Fountain Green Road)
- Roads within the incorporated municipalities (Town of Bel Air, City of Havre de Grace, and City of Aberdeen)
- Private roads
Pushing procedure
Drivers are required to widen or push snow back curb to curb to open inlets and drainage courses to prevent melting snow from becoming packed ice or causing flooding problems. Also pushing snow curb to curb allows mail carriers to deliver mail and placement of snow behind curb for future snow events. Parking your vehicles in the street greatly hinders snow removal operations and risks property damage as large equipment cannot maneuver efficiently.
Our recommendations
- If you have a driveway, use it. The more cars off the road, the better and faster plowing can proceed, and the less likely it is a vehicle will be plowed in, splashed by salt spray, or become the victim of a collision.
- Remove all portable basketball hoops (backstops) from the Harford County right of way to help expedite our snow removal operation.
- After you have shoveled, stand facing the road and shovel snow to the right into the yard instead of into the road. This will help avoid the frustration that occurs when a snowplow covers your driveway with snow.
- If you do not have a driveway, park on the even numbered side of the road in even years, and odd numbered side of the road in odd years, as close to the curb as possible. Move to the other side of the road after the plow has cleared it. Example: The 2019-2020 season was an even year, and the 2020-2021 will be an odd year.
What to expect when it snows
- 0-6 inches: It takes eight to 16 hours following the end of a 0-6" snowfall to plow and/or treat every county road once.
- 6-12 inches: After a 6-12" snowfall, county roads should be cleared within 24 to 36 hours. At that time, one pass should have been made through all county roads.
- 12-18 inches: After a 12-18" snowfall, our crews will complete the work in 35 to 40 hours.
- 18-24 inches: After an 18-24" snowfall, one pass should have been made through all county roads in 48 to 72 hours.
Power Outages or Other Emergencies
-
Downed wire, pole accident or tree limb on a wire:
- Baltimore Gas and Electric
Phone: 877-778-2222 - Delmarva Power
Phone: 800-898-8042
- Baltimore Gas and Electric
Emergency Alert System Messages
-
Radio Stations With Emergency Alert System Messages
- WXCY: 103.7 FM
- WHFC: 91.1 FM
EOC Direct Hookup to the Harford Cable Network
- Armstrong: Channel 7
- Comcast: Channel 21
- Verizon: Channel 31
Snow Complaints
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Road has not been plowed:
- State Highway Administration
Phone: 410-838-7788 - Maryland Transportation Authority
Phone: 866-713-1596 - County Roads
Phone: 410-638-3532 - Town of Bel Air
Phone: 410-683-4545 - City of Aberdeen
Phone: 410-272-1414 - City of Havre de Grace
Phone: 410-939-1800, ext.130
- State Highway Administration
Highway Districts
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- Hickory II Operations Center
Phone: 410-638-3532 - Abingdon District
Phone: 410-612-1616 -
Hickory District
Phone: 410-638-3208 -
Whiteford District
Phone: 410-638-3606 -
Jarrettsville District
Phone: 410-692-7878 -
Pothole Hotline
Phone: 410-638-3376
Fax: 410-879-8263
- Hickory II Operations Center