With the heavy snow that is predicted for today residents need to be prepared to cooperate with Celina street crews as they work to clear city streets of ice and snow.  If you are using street-side parking for your vehicles, the best thing you can do is to watch for the snowplows to pass, then move your car from where the plow has gone around it, into a clear section of street.  This will allow the street crew to clear the snow that was pushed up around your vehicle on their next pass.   "Please do not call and ask for the snowplow to come back immediately," said Celina Police Chief David Slusser.

With the Celina Public Works Department being responsible for several miles of streets, crews must dedicate their efforts to clearing all the streets with at least one pass before hitting areas for a second time. 

Parking ordinances do prohibit any vehicle from parking in the same space along the street for more than 48 consecutive hours.  So, even if you don’t move your vehicle soon after a snowplow goes by, you are responsible for moving it before it violates the 48 hour limit.  Residents are also responsible for clearing the public sidewalks that traverse their properties. 

With the winter storm arriving at the end of the Christmas holiday many people have groceries or other items that they may need to stock up on.  If you must venture out, it is suggested that any travel be done early on Wednesday morning, before the heavy snowfall and higher winds are predicted to develop around noon.   Emergency guidelines call for a household to be self-sufficient for the first three days of a weather emergency.  For rural areas this would also mean having a water supply, in case power outages disrupt your well water. 

If necessary city crews will work around the clock to keep the streets open and safe for emergencies and other required travel.  But area residents should monitor local news sources for current snow emergency conditions and travel restrictions that may be put into place in response to the winter storm, according to Slusser.