DC Government to Operate in Modified Posture on Monday, January 26

(Washington, DC) - This evening, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that DC Government will operate in a modified posture on Monday, January 26. Essential employees should report to work as regularly scheduled. Non-essential employees who can perform their job duties remotely will work remotely. Non-essential in-person services will be closed on Monday, January 26.

DC Public Schools (DCPS) students were already scheduled to be out of school for a professional development and records day. Educators will perform their duties remotely and staff will not be required to be in-person. Guidance has been provided that DC public charter schools close for in-person operations on Monday, January 26. Families with students enrolled at a public charter school should expect to hear directly from their school and can also check here to see if their school has announced closures.

There will be no trash, recycling, and food waste collection on Monday, January 26 and residents may experience delays throughout the week due to the amount of ice and snow in some alleys. DPW will work throughout the week to restore normal collection operations as quickly as possible. Leaf collection remains suspended.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for free email and text alerts and updates through AlertDC, the District's emergency public notification system, at alert.dc.gov.

The snow emergency remains in effect through Tuesday, January 27 at 9:30 am.While the snow emergency is in effect, motorists may not park on snow emergency routes and vehicles parked on these routes may be towed. Find a map of the snow emergency routes at snow.dc.gov. To learn where a vehicle has been towed, call the Towed Vehicle Locator office at 202-541-6083, or go to dpw.dc.gov/page/booting-and-impoundment.

An Extreme Cold Alert remains in effect, and the District is entering a period of extended extreme cold. The District opens Hypothermia Shelters to ensure there are warm, safe places to be for anyone experiencing homelessness. For a list of shelters and other information about hypothermia season, visit cold.dc.gov.

Residents are also encouraged to stay vigilant and help neighbors experiencing homelessness in need of shelter by calling the Shelter Hotline. To request free, accessible transportation for yourself or someone else, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or by dialing 311. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911.

Cold Weather Safety Precautions:

• Stay inside if you can.
• Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
• Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with access and functional needs who are the most vulnerable in our community.
• For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures, call the Brandywine Valley SPCA at 202-888-PETS.

What's Open
Low-Barrier Shelters
The following low-barrier shelters are open 24/7 year-round (except where noted):
The following low-barrier shelters are open 24/7 year-round (except where noted):

Women

• Harriet Tubman - 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE
• Pat Handy - 810 5th Street NW
• St. Josephine Bakhita - 6010 Georgia Avenue NW (7 pm to 7 am only)

Men

• 801 East - 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue SE
• Adams Place - 2210 Adams Place NE
• Emery - 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• New York Avenue - 1355 New York Avenue NE

LGBTQ+

• Living Life Alternative - 400 50th Street SE

Hypothermia Shelters
The following hypothermia shelters will begin extended, 24-hour operations starting Friday, January 23 at 7 pm through Tuesday, January 27 at 7 am:

Women

• Eve's Place - 2210 Adams Place NE
• Harbor Light - 2100 New York Avenue NE

Men

• 801 East Day Center - 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue SE
• Blair Hypothermia - 635 I Street NE
• Emery Hypothermia - 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• Federal City 1 North - 425 2nd Street NW
• Naylor Road - 2601 Naylor Road SE

Hypothermia Shelters
The following hypothermia shelters are currently open around the clock through Tuesday, January 27 at 7 am:

Women

• Eve's Place - 2210 Adams Place NE
• Harbor Light - 2100 New York Avenue NE

Men

• 801 East Day Center - 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue SE
• Blair Hypothermia - 635 I Street NE
• Emery Hypothermia - 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• Federal City 1 North - 425 2nd Street NW
• Naylor Road - 2601 Naylor Road SE
• Salvation Army - 3335 Sherman Avenue NW

Please note: Adjustments to hours and facilities may occur if circumstances dictate (e.g., utility issues, weather-related access, etc.)

The Sanctuary, a low-barrier shelter for transition age youth (age 18-24), located 511 Mellon Street NE, will be open around the clock on Monday, January 26.

The Downtown Day Services Center (The Center), located at 1313 New York Avenue NW, provides walk-in services to individuals experiencing homelessness with no appointment required. The Center will be open on Monday, January 26 from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry will be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be provided with a wristband that must be worn while in the Center.

Zoe's Doors Youth Drop-In Center for residents experiencing homelessness, located at 900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, offers a safe place for youth 24 hours a day and will be open on Monday, January 26.

Department of Behavioral Health (DBH): Anyone feeling anxious or depressed or facing mental health or substance use disorders can call/text 988 anytime to talk with a trained, caring crisis counselor for free, confidential support. If you are concerned about a family member or friend, you can call and talk about ways to support them.

The following services also are open on Monday, January 26:

• The 24/7 DC Stabilization Center, located at 35 K Street NE, supports adults experiencing a substance use disorder crisis at no cost. Walk in anytime.
• The 24/7 emergency psychiatric clinic (called CPEP), located at 1905 E Street SE, provides 24/7 emergency psychiatric care for adults at no cost. Walk in anytime.
• The 24/7 Community Response Team (CRT) will travel to the home or a community location to support adults and youth experiencing a psychiatric or alcohol/drug crisis with an on-the-spot assessment and counseling. Call 202-673-6495.

Modified Services:
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will suspend construction and work zones for non-emergency work in roadways, alleys, and sidewalks within the District's right of way. This includes manhole access and construction-related deliveries.

Lane Restrictions:
DDOT will suspend reversible lane operations citywide on the following roads:

• Canal Road between Chain Bridge and Foxhall Road NW
• Rock Creek Parkway (controlled by the National Park Service)
• 16th Street NW between Irving Street and Arkansas Avenue NW

The DC Department of Buildings (DOB) will not allow construction without an issued after-hours permit. Construction activity that proceeds without this required permit will result in a Stop Work Order. Illegal construction reports can be made using the Illegal Construction Inspection Request Form or afterhours by calling 311. To learn more about authorized construction hours and how to apply for an after hours permit, please view the After Hours Permit webpage. DOB offers many online services, tools, and resources, enabling customers to conduct business 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

All parking enforcement will be suspended, except for Snow Emergency Route ticketing and towing.

DC Streetcar is not operating. Check dcstreetcar.com for the latest updates on routes and schedules.

What's Closed
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers, community centers, indoor aquatic centers, and offices will be closed.

All DC Public Library (DCPL) locations will be closed.

Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL) senior programming, senior wellness centers, and community dining sites will be closed.

The Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration Service Centers as well as the EBT Card Distribution Offices, will be closed; however, the call center will be open, District Direct will be accessible, and benefits will continue to be processed.

The Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC), the central intake office for families in the District of Columbia seeking assistance with housing needs, will be closed for in-person services. Households can call 202-526-0017 to connect with a VWFRC team member and complete an assessment for homeless services.

The DC Health & Wellness Center (77 P Street NE) will be closed.

DC Health's Vital Records Division will be closed.

DC Health's Licensing and Renewal Division will be closed, with the exception of the online license applications system which will be available at doh.force.com/dchealthrenewals/s/portal-page.

All Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations will be closed. Customers are encouraged to visit the DMV website at dmv.dc.gov for available services online or download the agency's free mobile app.

The Department of Employment Services Navigation Call Center and all American Job Centers will be closed. Residents are encouraged to file unemployment insurance claims online at does.dc.gov.

The Sasha Bruce Youth Drop-In Centers for District residents experiencing homelessness will be closed.

The Latin American Youth Center Youth Drop-In Center for District residents experiencing homelessness, located at 3045 15th Street NW, will be closed.

Snow Clearing
The snow team is engaging in a full deployment. Heavy plows (six- and 10-wheel dump trucks) treat highways, streets, bridges, ramps, and other elevated structures, and light plows (pick-up trucks) treat smaller streets. The Department of General Services (DGS) is currently clearing DC government properties, including walkways, driveways and entryways at schools, police stations, fire houses, DHS shelters, senior wellness centers, and DPR sites.

Bike lanes across the District are serviced by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). DDOT's bike-lane clean up team clears the protected bike lanes after the District Snow Team clears general motor vehicle travel lanes citywide. Protected bike lanes are usually cleared six to 24 hours after motor vehicle travel lanes.

The community is asked to wait until eight hours after the end of the storm to request snow removal through 311.

Residential Snow Clearing
Residential property owners who are not enrolled in the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks also within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event.

DC Volunteer Snow Team Heros
ServeDC urges residents with their own shovels to volunteer to clear walkways for senior residents and those with access and functional needs through the DC Volunteer Snow Team. Volunteers will receive deployment assignments via email or phone.

Businesses
Commercial property owners are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event. DPW recommends that restaurant owners bring in all furniture and other elements within the outdoor dining areas, except for the barriers. Failure to do so may result in damage to the furniture or other materials.

Business owners should clear their sidewalks of snow within eight daylight hours of the storm's end. Business owner/permit holders are responsible for clearing out all snow within the outdoor dining area and ensuring sidewalks are accessible.

Critical Infrastructure
Reporting power outages or downed wires:
Fallen overhead power lines should never be approached or touched even if the lines do not appear to be live or sparking. Call Pepco at 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report fallen electrical lines and power outages.

Treat all downed power lines as if they're live. Do not touch, drive over, or try to move downed power lines.

Residents should take steps to prevent pipes from freezing/bursting:

• Drip water through your faucets to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Open under-sink cabinets to help pipes stay warm.
• Report loss of water service, widespread low water pressure, or water in the street to DC Water at 202-612-3400.

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