Recovery efforts across Howard County remained difficult this week following the region’s largest snowstorm in more than a decade, as a thick layer of ice formed over already substantial snowfall.
Residents say the ice significantly worsened conditions after an initial 10 to 11 inches of snow fell earlier in the storm.
“Before this storm, we had about 10 to 11 inches of snow. That was manageable. But this is much tougher,” said River Edge Estates resident Juan Pagan while clearing his driveway in an interview with WMAR-2 News reporter Blair Sabol.
Neighbors Try Creative Snow Removal Solutions
Some Howard County residents turned to unconventional methods to manage the icy conditions. Gail Poole-Vaughn and Ben Vaughn attempted a strategy they discovered online by placing a tarp over their driveway before snowfall to make removal easier.
“I found the idea on Instagram and thought, why not give it a shot?” Poole-Vaughn said.
Despite the preparation, the extreme cold created new problems.
“I went out with the snow blower this morning, but the plastic chute shattered, likely because it was so cold in the garage,” Ben Vaughn explained.
Hundreds of Residential Roads Still Await Clearing
As of Monday, Howard County’s Department of Public Works reported that crews had cleared more than 3,000 roads, though approximately 750 residential streets still required attention.
Residents faced additional challenges when the county’s live snow plow tracker experienced technical issues, limiting real-time visibility into where crews were working.
“Our teams have been working non-stop for the last three days and will continue until every road in the county is safe for travel,” said Howard County spokesperson McIntye in an email to WMAR-2 News.
Residents Frustrated by Delays
Several neighborhoods, including Oakview Village on Procopio Circle, remained largely inaccessible throughout most of Monday, leaving residents stranded.
“We’ve been waiting all morning,” said Oscar Arras, who was attempting to get his mother to work.
“My wife is stuck at home and can’t get to her job. We do what we can by clearing the surrounding area, but we’re still unable to leave,” added resident Yemi Babatunde.
Shortly after 5 p.m. Monday, multiple snow plows could be witnessed entering the neighborhood, signaling the start of long-awaited cleanup efforts.
