Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich addressed widespread frustration over the county’s recent winter weather response in his weekly message, describing the past two weeks as among the most challenging weather events the region has faced in decades.
Elrich characterized the storm as a rare “snowcrete” event that combined snow, sleet, and prolonged freezing temperatures, creating conditions unlike a typical snowstorm. County weather officials testified that if the precipitation had fallen entirely as snow, totals could have exceeded 20 inches, a scenario the county is far better equipped to handle. Instead, layers of ice measuring several inches thick fundamentally altered the response.
According to Elrich, the sustained sleet changed how the storm behaved on roadways and neighborhoods. Standard snow removal tools proved ineffective, with residents reporting damaged shovels while attempting to break through hardened ice. Even initial plowing efforts led to additional complications, as snow pushed aside quickly refroze, trapping vehicles and preventing residents from clearing space for further plowing.
The county pre-treated roads ahead of the storm and mobilized all available resources, Elrich said, but the scale and nature of the ice created conditions local governments are not designed to manage. He pushed back against criticism that the county lacked preparation, noting that maintaining specialized heavy ice-removal equipment and staffing for an event of this magnitude would cost tens of millions of dollars and require hundreds of additional employees for a storm that may occur once in a lifetime.
Sidewalk clearing also became a major concern during the aftermath. Elrich said the county extended enforcement deadlines after recognizing that many residents were physically unable to clear ice in single-digit temperatures and dangerous wind chills. He cited concerns about injuries and health risks if residents were forced to shovel under those conditions.
As temperatures moderated, the county resumed enforcement. Inspectors responded to nearly 400 sidewalk complaints in the first two days, issuing notices that required property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours. Elrich said the timing was deliberate, emphasizing that enforcement resumed only once conditions were safer for residents, while still recognizing the importance of clear sidewalks for children and adults traveling to school and work.
Elrich closed by thanking county employees and contractors who continued working through extreme conditions to reopen roads, facilities, and pedestrian routes. He highlighted coordination with the state, municipalities, and private property owners to prioritize school access and critical transportation routes, noting that crews are still removing ice and that conditions will continue to improve with warmer temperatures.
He added that snow and ice removal is difficult even under ideal circumstances, and that the past ten days pushed county crews to their limits as they worked to restore normalcy across Montgomery County.
