Dimensions Healthcare System

By Scott M. Lowe Jr. and Christie Chapman
Staff Writer - The Gazette Newspapers

County residents are trying to cope with slowed traffic and treacherous conditions caused by a massive snowstorm

County residents are trying to cope with slowed traffic and treacherous conditions caused by a massive snowstorm that covered the entire Washington metropolitan area.

According to the National Weather Service, the snow was expected to subside by 2 p.m. Thursday, but not after dumping as much as five inches of accumulation.

Capt. Chauncey Bowers, spokesman for the Prince George's Fire Department, said that de-icing and plow crews were working throughout the day to keep major roadways open. Once the snow stops, they would work on secondary roads, he said.

Prince George's County schools were closed Thursday. County government offices were on liberal leave for non-essential employees, and District and Circuit Courts were also closed Thursday.

"Plans for tomorrow's closings have not been announced yet," Bowers said. Betty Hager Francis, director of the county Department of Public Works and Transportation, said the county had 250 trucks plowing the roads.

"They start around midnight after the salt is on the road," she said. "We work half of the trucks on and off in 12-hour shifts."

The Mission of Love Warehouse in Capitol Heights, which provides services for homeless in the county and surrounding areas, was geared up Thursday to provide transportation to shelters and hot meals during the winter storm. But the snow kept people away from the warehouse and staff said they had not received calls requesting transportation.

"It's actually been slower than usual today," said Vanessa Fox, executive director. "Our first person of the day just came in after 11 a.m. I guess people just aren't going out."

The Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly put out a call for assistance from good Samaritans with four-wheel-drive vehicles to help get their staff to work. Dozens of local residents responded.

"It's been a tremendous response," said spokesman Bob Howell. "We've had over thirty drivers help out, and over a hundred trips will be made by tonight."

Imelda Tividad, a nurse at the hospital, was one of the staff members brought in by truck-driving volunteer.

"I'd called work this morning, because I wasn't feeling comfortable driving out in this weather," said Tividad, who said she and others at Prince George's Hospital know it's important they make it into their jobs.

"The hospital is one of those places that need workers all the time," she said. Other area hospitals had few problems. At Bowie Health Center, patients had been able to make it to their appointments, a center representative said.

While the storm delayed flights at the area's major airports, like Baltimore-Washington International, the snow grounded planes at the county's small airports.

Jack Forrest, a spokesman for Freeway Airport outside Bowie, said planes would be flying once the planes and runway were cleared of snow. Judy Leventhan, spokeswoman for Hyde Field, said that the runways were currently being cleaned off, but planes were grounded until the weather cleared.

Lee Schiek, manager of the College Park Airport, said his primary focus was clearing all the runways.

"The weather conditions preclude any takeoffs and landings," he said. No snow was in Friday's forecast, according to Weather.com.

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