Snow and extreme cold weather lies ahead

23 December 2021

The City of Richmond has crews in place ready to handle the snow and extremely cold temperatures expected over the Christmas season, and wants to remind residents and businesses what they can do to keep everyone safe over the holidays.

The City’s snow response plan includes a centralized control centre of staff and an experienced fleet of specialized snow and ice removal equipment and operators. City staff monitor the latest weather updates and data from road temperature sensors across Richmond to dispatch equipment and crews in anticipation of and during weather events.

Over 40 specialized pieces of equipment and vehicles are on deck to respond to snow events, with more than 1,000 tonnes of salt onsite at the City’s Works Yard.

Even with a robust winter weather plan in place, the snow and extreme cold can be a safety risk for some so the City is reminding residents and businesses to do the following:

1. Shovel those sidewalks. City Bylaw 5870 requires residential (single-family and multi-family) owners, commercial and industrial and occupants to clear snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their properties no later than 10:00 a.m. every day.
2. Shovel snow onto lawns or into designated parking stalls, not the street. Try to leave a break in snow bank piles for pedestrians to pass safely. Placing snow onto the street is a hazard for vehicles and slows down the road clearing process.
3. Think of your neighbours. Snowfall can create challenges for many residents. If you can, be a good neighbour and lend a hand to others in need of snow removal assistance (while keeping your distance).
4. Check on loved ones and neighbours to make sure they are safe when the temperature drops. Not everyone can heat their home sufficiently enough to keep warm.
5. Bring pets inside. Do not leave them out overnight, as they are not used to these extremely cold temperatures despite their furry coats.
6. Keep storm drains and grates around home and business properties clear of snow, ice build-up and debris to prevent blocking them, which causes pooling as temperatures warm.
7. Keep heating appliance air intakes or exhaust ports clear of snow and ice.
8. If a power outage occurs, do not use outdoor barbeques or heating devices indoors. If you have an emergency gas-powered generator, keep it far away from doors and windows to prevent carbon monoxide from entering your home.
9. Keep space heaters at least three-feet away from any combustible materials, do not use with extension cords, and do not leave heaters or candles unattended or with unsupervised children or pets.

For more winter preparedness and personal safety tips, check out the Resident’s Guide to Winter Weather at www.richmond.ca/winter.

The City’s priority during a snowfall is to pre-treat and clear all major arterial roads so emergency vehicles such as police, ambulance and fire trucks, as well as public transit and private vehicles, can travel safely through Richmond’s priority routes.

First and second priority routes are pre-established and the first to be cleared. Third priority routes consist of designated collector roads and roads of local significance. Third priority routes are salted and cleared once first and second priority routes are completed. View the existing priority snow routes map.

For information on the City’s snow response and more tips on how to prepare for snow and cold weather, visit www.richmond.ca/weather. Updates during snow and ice events are also posted on Twitter @Richmond_BC and Facebook @cityofrichmondbc.