Countywide State of Emergency
Amended to Include On Street Parking Ban
Travel Ban Remains in Effect – March 14th 12:30pm
Poughkeepsie, NY… The countywide State of Emergency for the County of Dutchess, which includes an order prohibiting travel on all county roadways except for emergency personnel, remains in effect as the region continues to experience heavy snowfall at rates of up to 2” to 4” per hour. The forecast and impact of the storm has changed since yesterday, necessitating an addendum order to the State of Emergency (full order including addendum is attached), prohibiting parking on all public roads in Dutchess County in order to ensure effective snow removal efforts. Local municipalities have the authority to move any vehicle parked on a public roadway that inhibits snow removal. The amended order was effective at 12pm today.
County Executive Molinaro said, “This is the most significant storm this region has experienced in years and is proving incredibly challenging to keep up with. We are grateful to all who have heeded the travel prohibition, keeping vehicle crash reports to a minimum. While we are hopeful to lift the travel ban late tonight or very early tomorrow as the storm diminishes, the parking order is necessary as the clean up from this storm is going to be very lengthy and we need to clear roads as quickly as possible.”
The addendum to the Executive Order declares “that the parking of motor vehicles on all public road prohibited until further notice.” This will aid state, county and local crews in snow removal operations.
“This parking order is necessary to ensure we can get our roadways reopened as soon as possible. Using safety and caution, please move any vehicles parked on roadways as soon as you are safely able to,” said County Executive Molinaro.
The original State of Emergency declaration regarding travel remains in effect, stating: “All roadways in Dutchess are closed and traffic is prohibited except for: medical and health facility personnel, law enforcement and public safety personnel, first responders, utility, maintenance and public works personnel, snow removal sanding, salting and clearing operations personnel, facility operations persons deemed necessary for plant operations by their employers and public and government personnel involved in the emergency operations.”
The state of emergency is issued pursuant to Section 24 of New York State Executive Law. It is enforceable by local, county and state law enforcement agencies.
County Executive Molinaro, with representatives from multiple county and state agencies and utilities, including Dutchess County Public Works, Sheriff’s Office, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, New York State Police and Central Hudson, is monitoring storm conditions from the County’s Emergency Operations Center and directing resources as needed.
For updates throughout the day, please follow Dutchess County Government on social media: Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346 or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov or on the County’s website at www.dutchessny.gov.
