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02092010_blizzard142
A blizzard strikes, comelling Penn to cancel classes. Credit: Maanvi Singh

The University will not hold classes on Wed., Feb. 10 due to snow, according to Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli.

“Essential personnel” are required to report to the University as scheduled, Carnaroli said in a statement.

This is the first time the University has shut down due to inclement weather since February 2003.

Other colleges, including St. Joseph’s University, Temple University, Rutgers University, George Washington University, Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh have also cancelled classes.

New York University, however, “plans to be open,” according to the school’s website, as of 9 p.m.

Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued a “snow emergency” in anticipation of over a foot of snow on Wednesday.

Penn administrators explained the procedure for snow removal.

“We handle snow removal between the Schuylkill River to 41st Street, from the School of Medicine buildings to Chestnut Street only,” Vice President of Facilities and Real Estate Services Anne Papageorge wrote in a statement. “Penn is responsible for the maintenance of over 1.3 million square ft of walkways and the campus parking lots.”

Facilities has 25 snow blowers, five gators with plows and spreaders, five trucks with plows and salt spreaders, one tractor with a broom, several smaller machines with brooms and “many” shovels at its disposal, according to Papageorge.

Before a storm, the University uses a “brine mix” that slows down the buildup of snow and allows staff to get off campus if the storm begins during the work day. It also makes plowing easier, according to Papageorge.

In addition, rock salt is used to treat the surfaces.

University Housekeeping has one designated person in each building for snow removal and salting of steps and handicap ramps.

If the storm is an off-hour storm, such as nights or weekends, Housekeeping concentrates on buildings that are open 24 hours per day, according to Papageorge.

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