Mayor Jessup: Lawrence snow emergency lifted, government opened; emergency shelter to stay open

Lawrence Mayor Dean Jessup has lifted the city’s snow emergency designation effective at 3 p.m. today, allowing the public to again use city streets. Mayor Jessup urged motorists, however, to go out only if necessary, as travel still can be treacherous. City government also will open Wednesday. Meanwhile, the emergency shelter set up Sunday by the city will remain open today and tonight for residents who have lost electric power and heat. People in need of shelter are asked to call 317-501-9708 or 317-258-6294 to arrange to be picked up and taken to the shelter. About 30 people used the shelter Monday, and about 600 electric customers in Lawrence are still without power. 
“Our public works and utilities workers have worked around the clock to clear the roads – and I’m sure that Lawrence residents are as grateful for their dedication as I am – but Mother Nature has been particularly stubborn this week,” Mayor Jessup said. “Our streets are passable, but the snow and ice are so compacted on many of them that pickup trucks with plows – usually an important part of our snow-removal fleet – are useless.”
Mayor Jessup declared the snow emergency Sunday afternoon in the midst of a storm that dropped about a foot of snow on Lawrence. Only emergency responders were allowed on the streets. “We know that many people must get to work or do other important tasks, so we wanted to lift the snow emergency designation as soon as the streets were passable,” the mayor said. “But motorists still should be aware that driving in these conditions can be dangerous, and we’re asking them to be especially careful if they venture out.”
Mayor Jessup also asked homeowners who have a fire hydrant on their property to clear snow away from the hydrant so that, in case of a fire, the fire department can locate it.
(source: Lawrence Mayor’s office news release)

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