Cleanup from Latest Snowfall Ongoing, Will Take Days to Clear

By Christina Georgiou

Residents shovel out cars on Ferry Street in Easton's West Ward
Thursday afternoon. Snowfall in excess of 12 inches, on top of previous
snow already on the ground, has left huge piles of snow all over the city,
which officials say workers will be working on removing well into next week.

The latest official snow emergency declaration ended this afternoon, but it will take days to clean up from the latest storm to hit the city and surrounding area, but workers will be working daily until the job is done--probably some time next week--Easton city officials say.

"I think the operation is going well," said Easton Public Works Director David Hopkins. "The crew has all of the streets passable at this point, at least all of the roadways that they were able to get through." 

Cars parked along streets that are not designated snow emergency routes make it harder for plows to do their job, but city officials realize that parking options are limited in some areas. They're also reminding residents that shoveled snow should not be thrown back into the street.

"Obviously on the side streets with on-street parking there is decreasing space to store snow; however, we still cannot have it thrown back into the street," Hopkins said.  "This is a real problem, especially with lower temperatures and re-freezing."

The city will be carting some of the snow away to clear more room, beginning Friday, he said.

"When we remove snow, we cannot dump it into the river so we store it at various locations throughout the city (where they can melt slowly)," Hopkins said. Snow will be moved to a parking lot along Lehigh Drive, the Hackett Park parking lot, Eddyside Park parking lot, and Heil parking lot, as well as other locations as city workers, aided by workers from private local firms contracted by the city, relocated small mountains of snow from city streets.


 

Snow Emergencies Declared in Easton Area Prior to Storm

A snowman seen in Wilson Borough. Another 6 to 10
inches of snow has been forecast for the area, with
the storm expected to begin tonight.

Snow emergencies have been declared in the City of Easton, along with several surrounding municipalities, in anticipation of significant snowfall expected to begin late Wednesday evening.

In the City of Easton, vehicles must be removed from snow emergency routes beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday. The parking ban is scheduled to end at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 14.

Residents living along snow emergency routes may park in the city's parking deck on South Third St. free of charge, beginning at 5 p.m. today. Vehicles must be removed by 5 p.m. on Friday to avoid paying a parking fee.

Additionally, garbage and recycling pick up in the city is expected to be delayed by at least one day due to the storm, city officials have announced.

In Wilson Borough, a snow emergency has been declared beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. The ban on street parking along designated routes is scheduled to last until Friday, February 14 at 2 p.m.

In West Easton, a snow emergency also starts at 8 p.m. and is set to last until 5 p.m. on Friday, February 14.

In Stockertown, the snow emergency will begin at 5 p.m. today and is set to last until noon on Saturday, February 15.

In Tatamy, snow emergency rules go into effect at 9 p.m. tonight. The ban on street parking on designated routes in the borough will last until streets are clear and town official lift it.

There will be a snow emergency in Williams Township starting at 9 p.m. this evening to last until 3:30 p.m. Friday, February 14.

Forks Township has declared a snow emergency to run from 10 p.m. tonight through 5 p.m. Friday, February 14.

Palmer Township has declared a snow emergency and issued a disaster emergency to begin at 6 a.m. on Thursday, February 13, lasting through 8 p.m. on Friday, February 14.

Additionally, LANTA bus service has been suspended for the entire day of Thursday, February 13.

Updated at 4:17 p.m.

Snow Emergencies Declared in Easton Area

In anticipation of a significant snowfall headed for the Easton area, the City of Easton and Wilson Borough have announced that snow emergency rules will be in effect beginning this evening.

In the City of Easton, the snow emergency will run from 5 p.m. today, January 2 through 5 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, January 3.

In Wilson Borough, a snow emergency is set to begin at 6 p.m. today, January 2 through 3 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, January 3.

Vehicles parked along snow emergency routes must be moved and may not return until the emergency is lifted.  

Residents living along snow emergency routes in the City of Easton may park in the municipal parking garage on South Third Street free of charge beginning at 5 p.m. today. Those who take advantage of the free parking are required to have their vehicles out of the garage by 6 p.m. on Friday, January 3 or face parking charges.

For more information about the snow emergency in the City of Easton, call the public works department at 610-250-6683. A full list of snow emergency routes in the city is available here.

For questions in Wilson, call the borough office at 610-258-6142.

Additionally, Palmer Township has reportedly declared a snow emergency to run until 5 p.m. tomorrow, January 3.

In Williams Township, a snow emergency was declared beginning at 5 p.m. Township officials have not said when the designation is set to be lifted.

In West Easton, a snow emergency declaration is set to run until 3 p.m. tomorrow, January 3.

Updates regarding other Easton area municipalities' snow emergency status will be posted here as more information becomes available. 

Last updated at 8:20 p.m.

City of Easton Declares Snow Emergency

The City of Easton has declared a snow emergency in advance of what is expected to be a heavy snowfall later today into tomorrow.

From this evening Friday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. through tomorrow afternoon, on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m.,  vehicles parked along any "Snow Emergency Routes" in the city must be moved and may not return until the emergency is lifted.

Residents living along Snow Emergency Routes are permitted to park in the South Third Street Parking Garage beginning this evening at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, without charge during the course of the emergency.

Snow emergency garage patrons are required to have their vehicles removed by 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 to avoid being charged for parking.