 This week, the County Executive addresses the challenging task of managing ice and snow throughout Montgomery County. With dangerously cold temperatures upon us, he shares essential safety tips to keep residents safe. He also highlights the upcoming public forum on data centers next week and underscores the significance of Black History Month, beginning on Sunday. Additionally, he discusses the devastating effects of recent federal actions in Minneapolis and emphasizes the importance of immigrant residents knowing their rights.
Story Keys:
 Montgomery County ended the snow emergency declaration for the latest winter storm on Thursday, Jan. 29. The County had been following snow emergency procedures since 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, to allow residents to park for free at County garages during the duration of the snow emergency. Parking was also restricted along emergency routes and residential streets to assist with snow clearing.
The Department of Housing and Community Affairs announced sidewalk snow-clearing enforcement is paused until Mon, Feb 2. Due to sustained freezing temps, snow-packed sidewalks have become icy and difficult to clear. Although enforcement is paused, property owners should help their neighbors by clearing sidewalks as soon as it is safe and possible to do so, prioritizing entrances, exits, and accessible routes. Take interim safety measures, such as applying traction aids where necessary.
According to the National Weather Service, there is the potential for more winter weather this weekend. Subscribe to Alert Montgomery to stay up to date on how the snow may impact your commute. The free notification system delivers accurate, timely emergency information directly from Montgomery County to residents by text message, email, or voice call to mobile, work, or landline phones.
Evironmental and public health leaders are monitoring the DC Water Potomac Interceptor sanitary sewer overflow along the Clara Barton Parkway near 495 in Montgomery County, although the pipe and cleanup is the responsibility of DC Water.
Our Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Environmental Protection, and the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security are coordinating locally to monitor any potential community impacts. Click through for their full statement on the situation and tips they have for the residents who live near the area.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women will host the 2026 Women’s Legislative Briefing (WLB) on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Universities at Shady Grove, located at 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. This year’s keynote panel, Visionary Women: Shaping Tomorrow Together, features U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, and Maryland House Speaker Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk. The panel will be moderated by FOX 5 DC’s Marissa Mitchell.
The WLB is Maryland’s longest-standing women’s legislative event and brings together hundreds of advocates, policymakers, community leaders, and emerging leaders from across the state to inform, engage, and mobilize communities around issues impacting women and girls statewide.
Advance registration has ended but tickets can be purchased on-site at the event.
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is expanding Ride On Flex, the County’s on-demand shared shuttle service, with the addition of Flex zone 918, launching Monday, Feb. 2. The new zone will provide peak-period, book-and-go transit service for the Ednor, Sandy Spring, Norwood, and Cloverly communities, as well as along New Hampshire Avenue between Route 108 and the White Oak Transit Center. The service will connect riders to the broader transit network, including Ride On bus routes, the US 29 (Colesville Road) Flash Bus Rapid Transit line, Metrobus, and Metrorail.
All Montgomery County bus services, including Ride On Flex, are fare-free for all riders.
Ride On Flex does not operate on a fixed schedule. Riders can reserve trips through the Ride On Flex mobile app or by calling the customer service center at 240-301-3842 to schedule a pickup time and location. The app, available for free in the Apple and Google app stores, allows riders to track vehicles in real time and receive estimated arrival times.
Flex zone 918 will operate Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 a.m. and from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich invites residents, community organizations, climate and environmental activists, and residents to attend a community forum on data centers from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Leggett Executive Office Building (LEOB) auditorium. The LEOB is located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. Residents and stakeholders can attend the forum in person or click here to participate virtually.
 Montgomery County's Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) is developing its Five-Year Consolidated Plan to guide the use of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Input from residents on community needs helps shape how the County will use these funds over the next five years.
DHCA is kicking off its consultation with three in-person community meetings on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 1401 Rockville Pike in Rockville, room 1003/1004. The hour-long meetings will start at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meetings will be held virtually through Zoom. Registering allows us to alert you to any schedule updates.
After registration, an email with meeting information will be sent to the email address you provide. Please contact atester@tdainc.org if you do not receive the email within 48 hours of registration. For those unable to attend the in-person sessions, a general virtual community meeting will be held on Zoom from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count on Wednesday, Feb. 4, a week later than originally planned, due to efforts to shelter as many people as possible because of dangerously cold temperatures. The PIT count identifies unsheltered individuals and families and helps direct resources and services to those in need.
The effort is organized by the Montgomery County Continuum of Care, the County’s local planning body that coordinates housing, services, and funding for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, in partnership with DHHS and local community service providers. A call for volunteers was made and answered by hundreds of our residents. They have been contacted directly about the date change.
 Please join the Montgomery County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Partnership for a special event celebrating Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day and the kick-off of the VITA tax season. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, February 6, at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), 9631 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville.
A resource fair, featuring various organizations throughout Montgomery County, will begin at 11 a.m. A formal program with remarks from elected officials, VITA participants, advocates, and USG leaders and students will start at noon.
The event was delayed due to the winter weather.
Cold weather will persist through the weekend, prompting a Cold Emergency Alert for Montgomery County through Tuesday, Feb. 3. Residents are warned to prepare for wind chill values below 20 degrees at times. That could cause frostbite to exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes or hypothermia.
If you are experiencing homelessness or see someone without shelter, contact the Crisis Center at 240-777-4000 for assessment and connection to shelter and support. During extreme cold or other dangerous weather, if the situation appears to be a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately, as emergency responders can provide faster assistance. County facilities, such as libraries and recreation centers, serve as places to warm up during normal operating hours.
The County is enforcing the animal cruelty Executive Regulation 17-17, prohibiting pets from being left outside unattended. The regulation is enforced by the Office of Animal Service under the authority of its executive director. If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, please call the Animal Services Division immediately at 301-279-8000.
The County's MC 311 call center received over 10,200 calls from Sunday through Wednesday due to the winter storm. The County extended shifts to help respond to the call volume, opened on Sunday, and extended weekday hours. Saturday, Jan. 31, 311 will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents find answers to many questions through 311. In a typical week, residents have questions about the County's bulk pickup services or recycling, which are handled by customer service representatives.
- Plowing of Montgomery County streets.
- Snow removal status updates.
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Reporting unplowed or missed streets.
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County office closures.
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Estimated time to finish plowing all streets.
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Snow plow timelines.
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Assistance clearing snow.
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Recycling guidelines.
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Snow plow blocking driveways.
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Schedule for plowing public streets.
Montgomery County Government is proud to celebrate the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s designation of Long Branch as the newest Main Street Maryland Community, marking a major milestone in the revitalization of one of the County’s most culturally vibrant commercial districts.
Long Branch, located between downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park, is known for its family-owned businesses, international restaurants, public art, and strong neighborhood identity. The upcoming Purple Line stations in Long Branch are expected to bring increased foot traffic, economic activity, and new opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
The Montgomery County African American Advisory Group invites the community to its first Black History Month Kick-Off and Good Trouble Awards Presentation from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Organizers are hosting this inaugural event to launch Black History Month with purpose, honoring a century of Black history while creating space to reflect, connect, and prepare together as a community. The event will be held at the Isiah "Ike" Leggett Office Building, located at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville.
 Civil rights icon Rosa Parks is commemorated twice a year. Parks is best remembered for her brave act of resistance on Dec. 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Her actions inspired the local Black community to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annually, Dec. 1 is remembered as Rosa Parks Day. Rosa Parks' birthday, Feb. 4, is celebrated nationally as Transit Equity Day.
To honor Parks, the County's nearly 400 Ride On buses will display interior commemorative posters that educate the public about Parks' bravery and the importance of the movement she ignited.
 Jobseekers are invited to participate in a free, in-person job and resource fair at the East County Regional Services Center, happening from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Participants can network with health care industry employers, receive job search guidance, and learn about new tools and strategies for finding employment. Support and resources for participants impacted by recent federal government cutbacks and layoffs will be available for participants.
Register through the Maryland Workforce Exchange at mwejobs.maryland.gov with the event ID #117289. Questions about the event should be sent to Mana Tinaza at MTinaza@worksourcemontgomery.com.
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