Mayor Parker Declares Disaster Emergency as Winter Storm Begins;\u00a0City\u00a0\u00a0Crews\u00a0Responding Citywide\u00a0<\/p>\n
PHILADELPHIA \u2013 As\u00a0a major winter storm is forecast to bring significant snowfall and high winds to the region through tomorrow, Monday, February 23, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has\u00a0declared a Disaster Emergency<\/a>\u00a0in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n The declaration follows updated forecasts from the National Weather Service\u00a0(NWS) predicting 12 to 18 \u00a0inches of snow, along with dangerous wind conditions.\u00a0A Blizzard Warning was issued by the NWS\u00a0for possible heavy snow and high wind\u00a0gusts\u00a0that\u00a0would make travel dangerous\u00a0and\u00a0could cause\u00a0power outages.\u00a0The\u00a0disaster emergency declaration enables\u00a0the City to mobilize all available resources and implement emergency management measures to protect residents and critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cThe declaration of a Disaster Emergency will allow Philadelphia to more effectively fight this large and dangerous storm as it rolls in,\u201d said\u00a0Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. \u201cIt is absolutely vital that the City be able to mobilize and utilize all available resources to address this extreme snow emergency and protect the health, safety, property, and welfare of Philadelphia residents.\u201d<\/p>\n City\u00a0Preparations and Response<\/p>\n Crews from the\u00a0Streets Department\u00a0are actively treating roadways and deploying snow-fighting equipment across the city, prioritizing snow emergency routes and major thoroughfares before expanding into neighborhood streets as conditions evolve.<\/p>\n More than\u00a01,000 personnel and over 800 trucks and pieces of equipment\u00a0are now mobilized to fight the storm, including large triaxle snowplows, Sanitation compactors mounted with plows, pickup trucks with plows and salt spreaders, as well as smaller bobcats, skid steers, and excavators for narrow streets.<\/p>\n The\u00a0primary goal during the storm is to make streets passable for emergency services\u00a0\u2014 Police, Fire, and EMS. This work will continue\u00a0around the clock after the storm ends\u00a0to treat all streets and keep Philadelphia moving.<\/p>\n The Streets Department urges residents to\u00a0avoid unnecessary travel and give winter maintenance crews space\u00a0as they treat more than\u00a02,500 miles of roadway\u00a0citywide.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Office of Emergency Management (OEM)\u00a0has activated the City\u2019s Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts across City agencies, utilities, and regional partners while closely monitoring changing storm conditions. Residents are encouraged to follow OEM social media channels and sign up for\u00a0ReadyPhiladelphia<\/a>\u00a0to receive important updates and emergency information.<\/p>\n Impacts to City Services<\/p>\n The following service adjustments and operational changes are being implemented across City departments to ensure public safety and\u00a0maintain\u00a0critical services during the storm:<\/p>\n City Buildings and Services:\u00a0All City of Philadelphia administrative office buildings,\u00a0the Free Library and all branches,\u00a0recreation centers,\u00a0and Courts are\u00a0closed to the public on Monday, February 23, 2026. This includes nonessential City residential services for L&I, Revenue and Water Revenue in the Municipal Services Building, Neighborhood Community Action Centers, among other city agencies.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Office of Homeless Services\u00a0declared a Code Blue\u00a0that went into effect at 3 p.m.\u00a0on\u00a0February 22,\u00a02026;\u00a0extra shelter\u00a0beds\u00a0are being added\u00a0as needed.\u00a0There is enough capacity at shelters\u00a0for anyone accepting services from intake\u00a0teams.\u00a0The\u00a0weekday daytime intake center,\u00a0Appletree Family\u00a0Center\u00a0at 1430 Cherry\u00a0Street,\u00a0will open at\u00a06\u00a0p.m.\u00a0and remain open\u00a0through Monday, with additional updates posted on the City website.<\/p>\n The\u00a0following warming Centers\u00a0will be\u00a0opened today, Sunday, February 22 with updates\u00a0posted throughout\u00a0the storm and Code Blue:<\/p>\n Hub of Hope, below Dilworth Park, 15th\u202fStreet trolley entrance, opened at 4 p.m., Sunday, February 22, 2026. Call the City\u2019s Homeless Street Outreach Hotline,\u00a0(215) 232-1984, if you\u00a0see someone on the street who needs help.<\/p>\n Food Sites:\u00a0Residents are encouraged to contact sites to confirm their hours of operation. Visit\u00a0phila.gov\/food<\/a>\u00a0or call 311 to find sites closest to you.<\/p>\n School District of Philadelphia:\u202f\u00a0All Philadelphia School District Schools and Offices\u00a0will be virtual<\/a>\u00a0on Monday February 23.<\/p>\n Philadelphia\u202fDepartment of Public\u202fHealth:\u202fAll City Health Centers will be closed on Monday, February 23, 2026. Patients who have appointments for that day will be contacted by Health Center staff to reschedule those\u202fappointments.<\/p>\n Philadelphia International Airport:\u00a0Airlines have adjusted their schedules due to the storm.\u00a0Travelers and those picking up travelers are encouraged to check their flight status and road conditions before leaving for the airport on Sunday and Monday.\u00a0Check with\u00a0your airline, get updates at\u00a01-800-PHL-GATE<\/a>\u00a0(745-4283<\/a>), or check the PHL International Airport website\u2014phl.org<\/a>. The airport has snow removal planned for the duration of the event.\u00a0For those flying on Monday,\u00a0A-West, B and C ticketing and checkpoints will be closed.\u00a0A-East, D\/E and F ticketing and checkpoints will be open\u00a0for passengers.<\/p>\n Trash\u00a0and Recycling Collections:\u202fDue to the expected amount of snow accumulation, Sanitation crews and equipment will be diverted to snow operations. Residents can find updates on sanitation services at\u202fwww.phila.gov\/sanitation<\/a>\u202fand\u00a0follow the Sanitation Department on social media.<\/p>\n Trash and recycling collections are suspended for Monday, February 23 and Tuesday, February 24.\u00a0There will be a two-day delay in collections for the week of February 23 as Monday collections will be\u00a0picked up on\u00a0Wednesday and Tuesday collections on Thursday. Collections will continue the rest of the week in the same sequence with materials picked up two days behind regular schedule.<\/p>\n There will be\u202fno collections in rear driveways.\u00a0Residents are instructed to set\u202ftheir\u202fmaterials out in front of their homes for pickup during the week of February 23. With the expectation of significant snow\u202faccumulation,\u202fthere is an increased risk of Sanitation trucks becoming stuck in the snow in\u202frear\u202fdriveways.<\/p>\n The\u202fcollection\u202fschedule\u202fmay change.\u00a0Continuation of trash and recycling collections will be contingent on how the storm and plowing operations have progressed.<\/p>\n Second trash collection\u202fis\u00a0suspended\u202fin areas of the city that\u202ftypically\u202freceive it\u202fduring\u202fthe week of\u00a0February\u00a023.\u202fThere will\u202fbe\u202fone collection\u202fonly throughout the week.<\/p>\n Delays:\u202fResidents should expect collection delays as crews navigate through the snow\u202fand ice.\u202fInaccessible streets may experience\u202fadditional\u202fdelays.<\/p>\n Sanitation Convenience Centers:\u202fResidents who\u202fcan\u2019t\u202fhold their materials can drop them off at one of the City\u2019s six locations, open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. A list of sites is available at\u202fphila.gov\/sanitation<\/a>.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Philadelphia Water Department\u00a0will continue to provide\u00a0service\u00a0for customers calling (215) 685-6300, including the 24-hour emergency line. To\u00a0report\u00a0an\u00a0emergency,\u00a0such as a leak in the street or a damaged fire hydrant, select option 1 for the emergency desk.\u00a0Water Department staff will\u00a0assist\u00a0the\u00a0City\u00a0in snow removal and other emergency operations.<\/p>\n Prisons Department:\u00a0Visits to corrections sites are suspended until further notice during the snow emergency.<\/p>\n Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW):\u00a0The 24-hour Emergency Hotline will remain open for emergency calls. At any time, all gas leaks or gas-related emergencies should be\u00a0immediately\u00a0reported by calling (215) 235-1212.<\/p>\n Guidance for Residents<\/p>\n City officials urge residents to take precautions as the storm progresses:<\/p>\n Avoid unnecessary travel and allow extra time if driving is\u00a0required.<\/p>\n Motorists are asked to allow extra time for travel and\u00a0maintain\u00a0safe driving distances to allow for sudden stopping. The frigid temperatures and cold ground will make it easy for snow to accumulate and cause slippery travel on untreated roadways.<\/p>\n Heavy snow and high winds can cause power outages. Know how to report outages and who to call for tree\u00a0or power line\u00a0emergencies.\u00a0Find that and more health and home safety\u00a0information\u00a0and resources<\/a>\u00a0from the\u00a0City.<\/p>\n Do not shovel or plow snow into the street. This practice is illegal, unsafe and\u00a0counterproductive to snow plowing efforts.<\/p>\n Watch for slippery sidewalks and clear a path at least 36 inches wide within six hours of the storm ending. Corner property owners\u00a0are responsible for\u00a0clearing ramps as an extension of their sidewalk.<\/p>\n Keep fire hydrants clear.<\/p>\n Clear snow from neighborhood sewer drains to allow melting snow to drain.<\/p>\n Make sure to clear snow from the utility access covers on your\u00a0sidewalk. If you have a water or\u00a0gas\u00a0emergency,\u00a0this will allow quick shut off if needed.<\/p>\n Assist\u00a0vulnerable neighbors where possible.<\/p>\n Residents should call\u00a0911 for emergencies\u00a0and use\u00a0311\u00a0for non-emergency service requests.<\/p>\n Pet Safety Awareness:\u00a0Residents should contact the ACCT Philly hotline (267-385-3800 ext. 1 if they\u00a0observe\u00a0a dog outside during the extreme cold (aside from bathroom breaks and short walks). It is against City ordinance to leave dogs outside in extreme cold without proper shelter, and owners can be fined up to $500.<\/p>\n The City will continue to provide updates throughout the duration of the storm.<\/p>\n Stay Informed\u00a0<\/p>\n Tune to local news for weather updates.<\/p>\n Sign up for free emergency alerts and weather updates from\u00a0ReadyPhiladelphia\u00a0by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 for free phone alerts or customize free text and email alerts by\u00a0signing up online<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nKensington Wellness Support Center,\u00a0265 East Lehigh Avenue,\u00a09 p.m. \u2013\u00a09\u00a0a.m.
\nPrevention Point,\u00a02913-15 Kensington Avenue, 9 p.m. \u2013 6 a.m.<\/p>\n