Snow Alert
Dear Neighbors,

A Winter Storm warning is in effect for the Chicago area today through Tuesday, February 16th at noon and we're expecting 6-12 inches of snow. There is blowing snow with dangerously low temperatures and wind chill up to -16 degrees.

Please call 911 in case of emergency, and call 311 to request city services.

Please be very careful driving and don't drive if you can avoid it. Conditions on Lake Shore Drive can be treacherous. OEMC recommends having a full tank of gas, and an emergency kit in your car with a blanket, flashlight, snacks and water.

Barrier openings on Lake Shore Drive at Schiller have been opened, and the City has staged response equipment at various spots along the Drive.

Please check to see if your neighbors, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, are okay, and offer assistance.

Keeping streets and walkways clear

  • The Department of Streets and Sanitation has more than 300 trucks out plowing and salting arterial streets. Click here to view the Plow Tracker to see where plows currently are, and where they have been. Crews will be focusing first on main arterials, like Lake Shore Drive, North Avenue, Lincoln, Halsted, Racine, Fullerton, Armitage, Lincoln Park West and the like, and will then move onto residential side streets after the main streets are clear. Thank you for your patience.

  • Property owners are responsible for keeping the sidewalk in front of their property free and clear of snow and ice. We encourage neighbors to work together to keep our community safe and accessible. If you are able, please help your neighbors to clear their sidewalks and cars of snow.

  • If you are shoveling or blowing snow, please keep the snow on the parkways and not the street. If you can, please clear corners.

Staying warm and safe

  • If you do not need to go out, please stay inside. Windchill temperatures will be low enough that even a few minutes of skin exposure to the weather could put you at risk for frostbite.
  • According to the Chicago Heat Ordinance, from September 15 through June 1, the temperature inside a rental residence is required to be at least 68 degrees from 8:30am - 10:30pm and at least 66 degrees from 10:30pm - 8:30am. Please notify our office and call 311 if your residence is in violation of this ordinance.
  • Click here for information on DFSS Warming Centers, and call 311 to receive up to date information on additional warming center availability. The nearest Warming Center to the 43rd Ward is the North Area Community Service Center at 845 W. Wilson Avenue.
  • Please check in on your elderly neighbors during this time. If you know of a senior in the community who might need additional resources and support during the inclement weather, please email [email protected]

Please click here to see the City's press conference about weather preparedness.

Please call my office at 773-348-9500 or email with complaints about about an unshoveled sidewalk after 24 hours of a snowfall or if you are unable to shovel. Together, we can make the neighborhood safe for everyone.
Trash Alerts

It's very important to shovel the area around your garbage cans. Streets and Sanitation cannot empty a garbage can when it is buried in snow (as in this photo).

As you know, our garbage collection system depends on our employees being able to bring your can to the truck so it can be dumped by machine into the truck. Let's all be part of the solution by clearing the area in front of and around our cans. Block Club Chicago explains.
Get Text Alerts to Get the Info You Need

We encourage you to sign up to receive alerts from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) to stay up-to-date on weather conditions and emergencies, as well as COVID.

  • Notify Chicago: Sign up for emergency alerts at NotifyChicago.org.
  • CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, text “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5 
  • COVID: For COVID-19 updates, text “COVID19” to 6-7-2-8-3 
  • CHIBIZ: For business updates, text “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3 

Additional information is available here. 
Prevent Frozen Pipes
 
Make sure you are doing everything you can to prevent frozen pipes and costly repairs. Chicago’s Department of Water Management reminds everyone to follow these easy steps:

  • Maintain proper heat throughout your home. This means everywhere there are pipes in your home.
  • Insulate pipes. Particularly those outside or on the perimeter of the residence. 
  • Continuously run a trickle of water. Make sure to keep the water moving on each floor of your home especially in areas farthest from the from where the main water service comes into the home.
  • If pipes do freeze, use a heating pad or hair dryer to thaw them. 
Vaccine Virtual Town Hall
with the Chicago Department of Public Health
Thursday, February 18th
6 p.m.

Please join our office for a Town Hall meeting with medical staff from the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) about the vaccine rollout.

Registration is required, and the Zoom link will be sent out to attendees about an hour before the event.

We will try to answer as many as possible during the session and are asking that all participants submit their questions in advance here.
The cold weather is a perfect time to spread some love to all you care about. Call folks and see if they are okay.

Stay warm,






Michele Smith
43rd Ward Alderman
43rd Ward Virtual Office Hours: M - F 9 AM - 5 PM 
 2523 N Halsted | 773-348-9500 | [email protected] | www.ward43.org