Towson, Md. (December 12, 2007) - County Executive Jim Smith and County officials reviewed the county’s snow preparations at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Towson. Baltimore County is fully prepared for winter storm operations, with trained crews, well-maintained equipment, and new Global Positioning System (GPS) devices for snow plows.
The news conference, a history report from last week’s snow removal was shown to demonstrate the new application as a management tool and enhancement for dispatching vehicles. Total cost, including a year of service for GPS devices on 250 County-owned vehicles and 125 contracted trucks, was $177,000.
Bureau of Highways Chief Tim Burgess announced that the County has 52,100 tons of road salt at 14 sites around the County, 300 trucks, and 400 people available for quick response. The County spends about $3.5 million in a typical winter removing snow and ice from the 2,652 miles of county-maintained roadways.
“Whether it is through installing a new GPS or just through old-fashioned dedication to fast and effective service, Baltimore County does everything it can to help our residents get back on the roads quickly, and most importantly safely,” Smith said. “Our number one priority is always the safety of our citizens.”
Directors and representatives from the departments of health, aging, and emergency management contributed related advice and safety tips at the news conference. Christopher Strong, warning coordination meteorologist from the National Weather Service was on hand to give his prediction of another mild winter, but cautioned that severe storms can always occur in our area.
Smith encouraged residents to log on to the Baltimore County web site for information on winter storm operations, inclement weather closures, and helpful cold weather health and safety precautions.
Courthouse 