Electronic message signs at intersections will carry Snow Emergency alerts
There's a new way to find out when a Snow Emergency is in effect. This snow season, electronic message signs above Downtown streets will show Snow Emergency alerts once one is declared. It’s just one of the many ways drivers can find out about Snow Emergencies.
A Snow Emergency will always be declared before 6 p.m. Once that happens, 17 variable message signs at a dozen intersections in Downtown will carry red-and-white Snow Emergency alerts. These alerts will include the 612-348-SNOW hotline that anyone can call to find out where to park.
Also this season, the City is continuing its partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor to use the company’s 12 digital billboards in Minneapolis to alert drivers when a Snow Emergency is in effect. Since there were no Snow Emergency declarations last year, the alerts were not used. That may make this season the first one to use the digital billboards for Snow Emergency notifications.
When enough snow falls, a Snow Emergency would be declared and drivers will then need to follow Snow Emergency parking rules so plow drivers can do the best job possible. Failure to follow the Snow Emergency parking rules can result in a ticket and tow.
Stay informed
Residents, workers and visitors have a number of ways to learn when Snow Emergencies are declared and what to do when they are. We’re advising drivers to put many of these tools to use, not just one or two. The more ways people use to learn about a Snow Emergency, the more prepared they will be to do their part, and the less likely they will be to be towed because they didn’t know one was declared.
- Hotline - By calling the automated 612-348-SNOW hotline, folks can find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared. The hotline will include information on that day’s parking restrictions that drivers need to follow to avoid tickets and tows. The hotline includes information in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong.
- The City’s website - Go to www.minneapolismn.gov/snow to find out whether a Snow Emergency has been declared and for a wealth of information on Snow Emergencies in many languages. Also, check out the street lookup, which lets you put in an address or a neighborhood to see where you can park during a Snow Emergency.
- Phone alerts - Minneapolis uses a phone alert system to notify residents when Snow Emergencies are declared. It is an automated notification system that can place thousands of calls per hour. You can add your cellphone or unlisted landline number to the alert system by signing up on the City's website.
- Email alerts - You can sign up to get Snow Emergency alerts automatically emailed to you.
- The Mail - Every fall, a Snow Emergency informational brochure is mailed to every household in Minneapolis. That’s around 167,000 addresses.
- Smart phone app – The new Minneapolis Snow Emergency app tells you where you can and can’t park on Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 of a Snow Emergency to help you avoid a ticket and a tow. This app DOES NOT tell you if and when a Snow Emergency has been declared, but it’s easy to find out using the app since it features a quick call button that connects you with the Snow Emergency hotline.
- The media - News releases are sent to the media so TV, radio stations and other news outlets can inform their viewers and listeners that a Snow Emergency is in effect.
- Cable TV - Tune in to cable channels 14 and 79. These channels will have information in several languages when a Snow Emergency is declared.
- Facebook – Like Minneapolis Snow Emergency on Facebook.
- Twitter - If you have a Twitter account, just follow us. Both the Twitter and Facebook pages will tell fans and followers when a Snow Emergency is declared.
- A QR code in the mailed brochure makes it easier for people with smartphones to get Snow Emergency parking rules online.
- Videos - Informative videos in English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong are available online to help explain where you can park when a Snow Emergency is declared:
Minneapolis Snow Emergency Parking Rules (English)
Find out where to park your car when a Snow Emergency is declared to avoid a ticket and a tow. Learn more in this edition of the Minneapolis "Did you know..." series.
Reglas de Estacionamiento de las Emergencias por Nevada (Spanish)
Averigüe dónde estacionar su carro cuando se ha declarado una Emergencia por Nevada para evitar una multa y remolque. Más información en esta edición de las series de Minneapolis Sabía usted.
Xanibaada Goobaha Baabuurta La Dhigto Xilliga Gurmadka Barafka (Somali)
Hel meel aad baabuurka dhigato marka lagu dhawaaqo gurmad barafka looga xaaqayo wadooyinka si aan gaariga lagaaga jiidin laguuna ganaaxin. Faahfaahin dheeraad ah waxaad ka heli kartaa nuqulkaan magaalada Minneapolis ee taxanaha "Ma ogtahay...."
Kev Cai Li Choj Txog Kev Kub Ceev thaum Daus Tau Lo (Hmong)
Thaum muaj daus tau lo, lub nroog yuav tsum tau kaus kev. Pej xeem yuav tsum tau tshem lawv lub tsheb, lub nroog thiaj li kaus tau kev du lug. Yog xav paub ntxiv, sais nroog Minneapolis cov tshooj xov xwm hu, "Koj pos paub".
Published Nov. 27, 2012