It’s late in the day, and the forecast is calling for several inches of snow overnight. Inside West St. Paul’s Public Works garage, crews are already checking their plows, and gearing up for an early morning.
Because the city expects more than 2.5 inches, a Snow Emergency is declared, and residents have time to plan ahead. Your phone buzzes with a text alert and an email from the city:
“Snow Emergency Declared - Enforcement Begins Friday at 2am”
It’s 7pm, and you’ve got plenty of time to get ready! You visit the city website to find more information about snow emergencies and parking requirements:
Snow Emergency Routes must be clear by 2am until fully plowed — This includes: Annapolis, Bernard, Butler, Charlton, Delaware, Dodd, Emerson, Marie, Mendota, Moreland, Oakdale, Robert, Smith, Stryker, Thompson, and Wentworth.
All other streets & alleys — No parking after 8am until plowed (or until 8pm, whichever comes first).
Preparing for the snowfall, you move your car into a driveway or a cleared side street. By the time you wake up, plows are already making clean passes down your block. Neighbors can get to work, buses run on time, and emergency vehicles travel safely. This is what early Snow Emergency notices make possible — when cars are off the street, plows can clear more roads, faster. Vehicles left behind may be towed so crews can finish the job.
Don’t get caught off guard.
Sign up for text or email alerts so you’ll know the moment a Snow Emergency is declared.