Snow Removal in Coconino County
The Flagstaff area is well known for its majestic beauty, its distinctive seasons and its "small town" atmosphere. At a 7000-foot elevation, residents and visitors alike can enjoy winter recreation, including sledding and skiing. However, with the snow season comes necessary awareness of precautions.

Our average annual snowfall in the Flagstaff area is 108.8 inches. Some winters are more severe than others, which means that we need to be prepared for the worst possible conditions in order to keep the streets clear and safe for our residents and visitors.

Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions about snow removal and they vary depending on which side of the windrow you end up on! First, it is impossible to plow without leaving a windrow. If the snowplow operator were to back up at each driveway and remove the windrows, many people would not get their roads plowed in a timely manner. Windrows placed in the middle of the street would have to be moved at a tremendous expense or be left, which causes both mobility and safety concerns.

When snow is removed from the roadway, the snowplow operator has to pile it as far off the shoulder as possible to protect the surface of the road and make room for additional snow from future storms. This creates a windrow or berm. Individuals are responsible for clearing away the windrow from residential driveways, business entrances, and mailboxes. Please do not shovel the snow back into the street. This can be dangerous and could cause you to be liable in case of an accident.

Plowing Priority
It may be helpful to understand the snow removal philosophy adopted by the County. The schedule is prioritized on a greatest impact basis. The main arterials, collectors, and main residential streets are plowed first in that order.

Sometimes, due to heavy snowfall, we have to stay on the arterial roads longer than we would like because they are the top priority. This allows our citizens some mobility within the community and keeps emergency services access as open as possible. Once these routes are accessible, side streets and cul-de-sacs are plowed.

Private roads are not maintained by the County. Homeowners are encouraged to call private snow removal contractors as soon as the need arises.

Interstates
The Arizona Department of Transportation is responsible for Interstate Highway and State Route snow removal. The City of Flagstaff, likewise, is responsible for all roads within the city limits that fall within their jurisdiction. Coconino County plows all roads that are outside of the city limits and not part of the state system, which fall within the County's jurisdiction.

Parking
Coconino County has adopted Ordinance 86-6, which prohibits parking on County roadways between November 1 and April 1. All motor vehicles should be kept clear of the streets to expedite snow removal operations and to prevent damage to county snowplows or private vehicles. Any motor vehicle parked in a manner that presents an obstacle to efficient snow removal operations may be cited by the Sheriff's Department and may be towed away and stored at the owner's expense.

Procedure
The Coconino County Public Works Department monitors the weather very closely, both through the internet and by personal contact with the National Weather Service.

• If inclement weather has been forecast, a snow patrol crew is activated to monitor and observe the actual conditions taking place.
• If there is a high probability that a storm will hit within the County, a base crew will be called in initially as an extra precaution.
• If snow is actual starting to fall, as observed by the patrol or base crew, our full snow shift will be deployed. These crews will remain on two 12-hour shifts for 24-hour coverage until the storm is over and all cleanup is accomplished.

Contact Information
If you live outside the city limits and reside on a County-maintained roadway, contact:

• County Snow Removal: (928) 679-8300 during normal business hours (7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.)

If an emergency exists in the County, notify as listed below the following agencies and they will aid you in the event of medical or other emergencies by snowmobile or snowcat:

• Emergency: 9-1-1
• County Sheriff's Department: (928) 774-4523
• Interstate DPS Emergency: (928) 773-3600