DSNY Commissioner Discusses Snowstorm Road Clearing Efforts

Snowstorm Preparedness and Response

• ❄️ The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) anticipated the early start of the storm and was prepared with a 7:00 p.m. shift and ready-to-deploy plows and salt spreaders.
• 💧 Pre-salting operations were initiated the night before, and full spreading began around 5:00 a.m. to stay ahead of the snowfall.
• 📈 Current snowfall is minimal, but plowable depths of about two inches are expected within the next hour and a half.
• 🚛 Over 2200 plows are on standby, ready for immediate deployment across the city.

Salt Effectiveness in Cold Temperatures

• 🌡️ Standard rock salt loses effectiveness at temperatures around 20-15°F.
• ❄️ DSNY utilizes a calcium chloride product mixed with rock salt, which maintains effectiveness down to -25°F.
• ✅ This specialized mixture ensures effective road treatment even in the current cold conditions.

Ongoing Efforts and Gratitude

• ⏳ The day is expected to be long, but the department is confident in its readiness to manage the storm.
• 🙏 The DSNY Commissioner expressed gratitude for the department's hard work in keeping the city safe.