Serious Winter Storm: No Unnecessary Travel Advisory Extended Through Thursday at 6 pm
Interim City Manager Tom Sarvey has extended the No Unnecessary Travel Advisory through Thursday, February 23rd at 6:00pm. This winter storm is causing very poor visibility, extreme cold, significant drifting, and very slick roads. City offices and facilities will also remain closed.
Please do not travel today. Dozens of people have been stuck in town. Despite city crews working extended shifts, roads are basically not travelable. 4-wheel drive trucks are stuck throughout town, which can be dangerous and overburden our emergency responders.
We will be following our snow removal plan (www.rawlinswy.org/snow). We do not expect to reach non-priority roads until Friday afternoon at the earliest.
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City of Rawlins Interim City Manager Tom Sarvey has issued a Travel Advisory on February 22, 2023, from midnight until 6:00pm due to the National Weather Service’s prediction of 12 inches of snow. Residents are asked to limit motor vehicle travel unless necessary and urgent. Heavy snow, icy conditions, and winds are expected to create hazardous road conditions. If you do travel, please stay as far away from all snow removal equipment and other drivers as possible due to the roads being very slick.
City of Rawlins Public Works, Community Development, and Parks & Recreation Departments are working on snow plowing and removal. Our crews will be working tonight and tomorrow. We are following our snow removal plan and will be focusing on Priority 1 and 2 roads first.
Interim Manager Sarvey encourages residents, “For your safety and the safety of first responders and snow removal personnel, please stay off the roads when possible until conditions improve.” During a travel advisory, roads are not closed but no unnecessary travel is advised. A trip which could wait until the advisory is lifted should not be made. The City of Rawlins does not determine the necessity for any individual to report to work.
City of Rawlins Office and Facilities, including City Hall, Public Works/Community Development, Animal Shelter, Landfill, Recycling Center, Business Innovation Hub, Rawlins Family Recreation Center, Indoor Shooting Range, and the Rochelle Ranch Golf Pro Shop will be closed Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
Some reminders:
- To report roads with significant snow-drift problems you can visit www.rawlinswy.org/concern, call Public Works at 307-328-4599 during regular office hours or call the Police Communications Center at 307-328-4530 after-hours and on weekends/holidays/city closures.
- For situations such as emergencies, injury, and illness, plows are dispatched with the first responders to provide passage to the residential areas where accessibility is a concern.
- If your vehicle does become stuck, please make sure it has been removed from the main lane of travel. If your vehicle is in the lane of travel and left unattended, it can be towed at the owner’s expense.
- If four or more inches of snow has accumulated on non-priority roads, the City of Rawlins will plow those residential roads once Priority 1 and 2 have been plowed. When we plow roads, this can lead to windrows which may impede access to driveways or vehicles parted on the streets. We are focused on keeping the roadways open.
- There are expected to be very low temperatures with this storm. Please take measures to prevent frozen pipes, including allows drips from faucets and heat tape.
- Please check on your neighbors, especially those who may need extra assistance.
- You can find more information about the City’s snow removal plan, including the map, at www.rawlinswy.gov/snow.
Interested in receiving news from the City? Sign up for news via email or text at www.rawlinswy.gov/notifyme under “City of Rawlins News.” For more information, please contact Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations/PIO, at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022.
