Residents stock up on supplies for blizzard

The impending storm has already caused a slew of closings and cancellations throughout the region. Schools were sending students home early Friday in both Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's counties, while city and Anne Arundel County governments planned to close down early.

The federal government also allowed liberal leave and was dismissing workers four hours early. And Southwest Airlines pre-emptively canceled more than 100 flights out of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Meanwhile, rush-hour traffic was unusually light on local highways Friday morning.

Most officials had a simple piece of advice once the storm - which will likely approach blizzard conditions - really kicks in: Stay home.

"Now is the time to take precautionary steps and obtain emergency supplies," County Executive John R. Leopold said.

The storm is expected to bring a deluge of snow to the region.

The snow was expected to start in Annapolis early Friday afternoon, with 18 to 24 inches falling before it all ends Saturday night, said Trina Heiser, a meteorological technician with the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington office in Sterling, Va.

"The heavier snow will be later this afternoon-evening through the overnight hours," she said.

Friday's snow could top the record for the date, which was 7.2 inches, set on Feb. 5, 1995.

People were busy getting ready for the storm Thursday afternoon.

Ralph Dines, an engineer at ARINC, was at the Home Depot on Forest Drive in Annapolis, loading two big bags of sodium chloride into his vehicle.

"They have a pretty good supply of this stuff, but they are out of shovels," he said.

Dines lives near Andrews Air Force Base, where he said all the stores were out of the supplies he was looking for.

"I work in Annapolis and thought I'd try here while I am at work," he said.

Plenty of people are about fed up with this winter's snow, but not Dines.

"I don't mind it. I grew up in D.C. and remember plenty of snow," he said. "I think we're jaded. It is winter."

He said he could really use a new shovel, though.

Angie Hayden, Home Depot's assistant manager, said the store has plenty of salt and ice-melt products on hand.

"After the last blizzard we got four truckloads of it," she said.

But shovels? There was a huge run on them Thursday.

"We got a shipment of shovels in last night," she said. "We had 250 to 300 this morning. Sold out."

There was another load of shovels and snow blowers in transit, but she was not sure it would arrive in time.

Got milk?

At the nearby Shoppers Food, the crowds had been coming all day, said Brian Brown, the store's director.

"We are keeping up," he said. "It has been three or four times as busy as a normal Thursday. And we will get more tonight."

Suppliers were trying to keep shelves stocked. A Schmidt's bakery delivery man was on his second run of the day stocking shelves at area grocery stores, but was "too busy to talk now."

But Brown was encouraged by the business.

"We have plenty of milk, plenty of eggs, plenty of bread and plenty of toilet paper. We're covered," he said.

Other grocery stores were packed, especially later in the afternoon as people got off work. There were reports of long checkout lines snaking down shopping aisles. Some people reported hour-long waits and shopping cart shortages.

Some people - in addition to grabbing the typical snow-panic trio of bread, milk and toilet paper - are sure to stock up on another trio: beer, wine and liquor.

Few ever buy all three, but some liquor stores see a spike in sales before big weather events.

Edgewater Liquors has the benefit of being in the same shopping center as a Safeway. After people stock up on groceries, they head over to the liquor store for their adult beverage of choice, said manager Danny Benbow.

Sunday's Super Bowl - and the requisite parties - played a role, too.

Business picked up Thursday afternoon, and Benbow said it would only get busier.

But why do people insist on stocking up on liquor?

"It's their vice," Benbow said. "People can't be without their vice. Alcohol helps soothe the nerves."

Plow now

Snow removal is the first concern of local and state governments.

County crews were getting ready to roll by 10 a.m. Friday. At peak plow times, a full complement of 188 county trucks and contractors will be on the road.

The county has 8,000 tons of salt on hand, and more shipments are possible if the salt runs out, said county spokesman David Abrams. In the last big storm, the county used 8,000 tons.

The county Emergency Operations Center was scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Friday. From there, county officials will monitor the storm's developments and oversee the initial response.

As the snow moved closer, the State Highway Administration was busy fueling and repairing trucks, replenishing supplies and loading salt. Some crews were beginning to apply a brine solution to bridges and ramps along highways to keep ice from developing.

"Across the state we are prepared for this latest round of heavy snow," Gov. Martin O'Malley said. "The safety of our roads is a priority and we will dedicate the resources necessary to battle the storm that is headed our way."

He said people can help by staying home.

The state had nearly 2,200 pieces of equipment at the ready along with 266,000 tons of salt. To date Maryland has spent about $50 million on dealing with this winter's weather, and budget adjustments will be necessary within the Department of Transportation, officials said.

No parking

In Annapolis, city officials announced that all cars must be removed from snow emergency routes by 4 p.m. Friday. Any vehicles remaining on those routes will be towed to the City Dock parking lot.

Spokesman Phillip McGowan said the city won't charge or ticket for the tow.

"We need to get the vehicles off the roads to give our crews a fighting chance to get the roads cleared in an acceptable time frame after the snow begins to fall," Mayor Josh Cohen said. "Remember, this is a historic area and many of the roads are narrow, so if you don't get your cars off the designated emergency snow routes, they will have to be towed."

City-operated garages were open free to city residents beginning at 8 this morning.

The city expected to have up to 10 crews working tomorrow and hoped to avoid using contractors. On Sunday and Monday the situation will be reassessed to see where further cleanup is required.

If the worst snowfall prediction comes to pass, city officials warned that it could take three or four days to clear streets.

Storm information

• All of today’s prep sports schedule has been postponed because of the weather.
• Home subscribers to The Capital will find their normal Sunday inserts in Saturday's edition.
• For the latest in snow cancellations and postponements, watch www.HometownAnnapolis.com.
• Also, we’d like to know about your snow experiences, both good and bad. Send brief notes and photos from the snowstorm and its aftermath and any cancellation announcements to tips@capitalgazette.com.

Who to call

Here’s a rundown of phone numbers that could be useful for the weekend snowstorm:
• County snow removal: For information or complaints about county-maintained roads, call 410-222-4040.
• Health-related needs: Call the county Office of Emergency Management at 410-222-0600 for help with oxygen, transportation to dialysis or other medical needs.
• Department of Aging Snow Patrol: Seniors or people with disabilities who need help with shoveling should call 410-222-4257. Volunteers can join the snow patrol by calling 410-897-9207.
• Power outages: Call BGE at 877-778-2222.
• Shelter: If you need shelter, call the county Department of Social Services at 410-421-8400 or 410-863-4888.
• State snow removal: The State Highway Administration handles numbered state routes and highways. Call 800-327-3125 or visit www.roads.maryland.gov or www.twitter.com/mdsha.
• Annapolis parking: The city already has declared a “Level III” snow emergency. All vehicles should be off emergency routes by 4 p.m. Friday. The Knighton, Gott’s Court and Hillman garages are open for free parking for city residents.
• Annapolis snow removal: Report problems by calling 410-224-2140.
• BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport: Check flight status at www.bwiairport.com or call your airline.
• Maryland Transit Administration: Bus and rail service schedules may be changed. Call 410-539-5000.

Be prepared

County officials urged residents to prepare for the impending storm. Among their suggestions:
• Stay home unless absolutely necessary.
• Have vehicles properly winterized and equipped with snow tires or chains. Carry a “survival kit” in your vehicle: blankets, candles, matches, nonperishable foods, drinking water, protective clothing, traction material and a shovel. Maintain a full tank of gas.
• Make sure home emergency equipment — battery-operated radios, flashlights, emergency heating sources, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers — are in working order. Candles are not recommended.
• Make sure furnaces, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces have been checked for safe operation.
• Always dispose of fireplace ashes in an approved metal container. Do not put ashes in a plastic or paper bag or other unapproved container, and don’t put them on the deck.
• Have a supply of water and nonperishable food, and keep an adequate supply of medications and baby supplies on hand, if needed.
• Never run gas-operated equipment such as generators inside a structure. Even a garage with the door open may not be adequately ventilated.
• Check on elderly family members and neighbors.