As Rhode Island experienced its first snowfall on Dec. 11, Mayor Ken Hopkins announced the following day that the city is ready for the winter season. He reminded citizens that the safety of all residents, school children, workers and businesses will be the priority for Cranston’s public works crews and public safety personnel.

Since August, Hopkins has met with the Public Works Department and Highway Maintenance leadership to make sure the city can timely respond over the next several months.

“I wanted to make sure that our snow plowing equipment is ready, have adequate plans for salt and sand purchases and our list of outside vendors is ready to help in the heavier snowstorms,” said Hopkins in a Monday press release.

According to Chief of Staff Anthony Moretti, the city has approximately 45 vehicles that employees with use for plowing. In larger storms when Cranston uses outside vendors, they have an additional 16 city employees go on the roads serving as contractor supervisors assigned to the city’s plowing districts. Currently, the city has approximately 65 vendors – that number is expected to grow to roughly 80 as landscapers convert over to plowing.

He added that the city’s timely and comprehensive response to any level of snow is critical for residents, schools and businesses. The mayor said he has also been working with the leadership of the police and fire departments “to make sure they are ready to assist and render help to residents as the traditional New England winter weather comes through our city.”

The mayor noted that good communication and coordination with the school superintendent is also important as the school department tries to make the difficult decision as to whether to open Cranston schools.

“When you are trying to decide what’s best for student safety you have to be guided by early morning forecasts, the status of street plowing and snow removal around the schools. Oftentimes people are still sleeping when the schools are trying to decide to put the buses on the roads,” Hopkins said.

According to the mayor, Cranston’s highway crews are dedicated to getting the city’s streets open and passable for residents as the different storms hit and intensify over the course of the snow events.

“While every storm is different, the city will pre-treat roads as usual and work to keep up with strong winds and varying accumulations. Once we have the roads open, we will go back through each neighborhood to widen and clean up area streets.”

He added that the city’s top priority is public safety.

“We need everyone’s cooperation and patience,” said Hopkins.

He urged residents to use common sense depending on the circumstances of a snowstorm.

“Let the city trucks do their work and we will get Cranston open for people to get to work and students to get to schools,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins offered several suggestions for the public’s cooperation and planning:

- Pay attention to local weather broadcasts and plan ahead for food and other purchases.

- Listen for school announcements for delays or cancellations.

- Be careful shoveling but help keep sidewalks in front of homes and businesses clear.

- Keep automobiles off the streets and observe parking bans.

- Check in on neighbors especially elderly residents.

- Be prepared for power outages in heavy storm with flashlights, batteries, and generators, if available.

- Contact emergency responders in cases that warrant immediate attention.

The city has budgeted $825,000 for snow plowing and removal that includes salt and sand material, equipment repairs, overtime and outside plowing vendors and contractors. He said that figure does not include the normal salary and benefit costs of highway maintenance personnel who work throughout the year.

“Hopefully we will not have any extraordinary events or blizzards this season. In any event, we will be ready,” Hopkins said. “Cranston residents have always worked with us, and we are dedicated to having a safe winter season in our city.”