SNOW EMERGENCY IN QUAKERTOWN BOROUGH 

To maintain the Borough of Quakertown, we have 15 pieces of equipment which consists of 12 plow trucks & 3 backhoes. We have 17 men who go out and plow snow and salt the Borough streets. The Borough is sectioned into 8 different sections for snow plowing and 6 sections for the salt route. We plow throughout the night and day until the streets are clear and safe.

Make sure that if there is a storm drain in front of your residence or at another part of the street where no one resides, please make sure that the storm drain is kept clear. This helps from flooding and other incidents.

Keep fire hydrants clear of snow. It is very important that if there is a fire hydrant in front of your residence or near you to make sure that it is shoveled out. This helps the fire department in a time of need and fast response to have access to water in emergencies to see where the hydrants are located and to have access to them immediately.

Once the major streets and side streets are plowed after a storm, the Borough starts to clear corners at intersections, sidewalks, and parking lots. We do the best we can to make sure that all roads are passable and clear and safe.

When we have a storm or a substantial amount of snow, we clear the downtown businesses on W. Broad Street. We will have the street posted the night before and we will start very early in the morning before the opening of businesses and rush hour. We know that this is an inconvenience but must be done.

The placement of objects on any portion of a street is prohibited and the Borough discourages the use of chairs, trash cans, or other objects to reserve parking space.

GETTING YOUR VEHICLE READY FOR WINTER

Preparation is one key to successfully navigating winter roads. Winter weather can bring unexpected conditions, so make sure your vehicle is ready for ice and snow. Prior to the winter driving season, you should have a mechanic check the brakes, battery, hoses and belts. Below are some additional tips for getting your vehicle ready for winter.

• Check that your fluid levels are full.

• Make sure your wipers don't streak. You may want to consider installing winter wiper blades.

• Ensure your heater and defroster are working properly.

• Check that your vehicle's radio is working properly so you can receive weather and traffic reports.

• Make sure all lights are working.

• Check to be sure tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth.

• If you live in an area prone to heavy snow, you may want to use dedicated snow tires on your vehicle or carry a set of tire chains. At a minimum, your all-weather tires should be mud and snow rated.

• In the case of a problem, contact a mechanic immediately.

WINTER EMERGENCY KIT

PennDOT recommends packing a winter emergency kit in your vehicle any time you travel. Print out our Winter Emergency Kit List (PDF) to help you in your preparations.

• Flashlight and batteries

• Battery-operated radio

• Jumper cables

• Cellphone and charger

• Snow shovel

• Matches and candles

• First aid supplies

• Extra warm clothing and gloves

• Blanket

• Ice scraper

• Sand

• Bottled water

• Non-perishable food

• Anything else you may need to accommodate family traveling with you (special medication, baby supplies, pet food, etc.)