COPING WITH MAJOR SNOW STORES IN URBAN AREAS-COMMUNICATIONS

A CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IS INDISPENSABLE IN A SNOW AND ICE CONTROL ORGANIZATION. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE OF THE LARGER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW-BELT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY. IN NEW YORK CITY, LOCAL SNOW SITUATIONS ARE FOUND TO BE AT SUCH VARIANCE THAT TRUCK-PLOWS WERE NEEDED TO OPEN ROADWAYS IN ONE PART OF THE CITY WHILE NOT A SINGLE SNOWFLAKE FELL IN ANOTHER PART. IT IS ABSOLUTLEY IMPERATIVE, THEREFORE, FOR THE SANITATION DEPARTMENT TO SECURE TIMELY INFORMATION AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF WEATHER FORECASTS AND TO SECURE DIRECT REPORTS FROM VARIOUS SCENES OF ACTUAL OPERATIONS. THE DEPARTMENT RELIES PRIMARILY UPON THE TELEPHONE FOR LIAISON WITH THE UNITED STATES WEATHER BUREAU AND OTHER FORECASTING SERVICES. IT HAS ESTABLISHED A DIRECT LINE OF TELETYPE COMMUNICATION WITH PRIVATE WEATHER FORECASTING SERVICES. THE TELETYPE SYSTEM OF OVER 70 INTERNALLY FIXED POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT IS THE BASIS FOR DOCUMENTING CLEAR, CONCISE ORDERS TO THE WORKING FORCES IN THE FIELD. IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A TWO-WAY RADIO SYSTEM CONSISTING OF NEARLY 140 UNITS. A SHORTCOMING OF THE RADIO NETWORK LIES IN THE SHYNESS OF THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT. ANOTHER MAJOR SHORTCOMING IS THE LACK OF RADIOS IN OPERATIONAL VEHICLES. /AUTHOR/

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00218197
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Aug 23 1994 12:00AM