The City of DeKalb announced today that it has put into effect a city-wide snow emergency from 5 p.m. Tuesday until further notice.
According to the National Weather Service, conditions will deteriorate rapidly with travel likely to become virtually impossible at times Tuesday night until mid-day Wednesday.
“We ask that residents stay home and off of city streets unless you have an extreme emergency,” DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said as part of a city news release issued Tuesday morning.
“If this forecast holds true, our snow plows will not be able to keep up with the falling snow. We will be challenged to keep the main roads open. Our ability to get to and keep the side streets open will be significantly delayed,” said City Manager Mark Biernacki.
As part of a snow emergency declaration, residents are prohibited from parking their vehicles on city streets until after the plows can clear the snow. “We recognize that in some locations of the City, the ability to park off of the street is limited. But, the difficult job of clearing the snow is made more difficult if the streets are full of vehicles.” Feithen said. “We ask that citizens take the necessary steps to ensure their vehicle is not ticketed or towed.”
Alternate off-street parking lots that are available include downtown public lots 3, 5, and 9; NIU lots 2, A, B, and E (near Anderson Hall); Hopkins Park (north lot); Sports and Rec Center (south lot), Haish Gym; and the parking lots at Clinton-Rosette, Huntley, and Littlejohn schools. The police department can be contacted at its non- emergency number — (815) 748-8400 — for more information on parking restrictions during this snow emergency.
In the event of power outages, City Hall at 200 S. Fourth St. will serve as a warming center. Should significant numbers of citizens arrive at City Hall, then the Red Cross will open up other locations that can better serve residents for a longer term stay.
