WINTER STORM: City of Salisbury
UPDATED – 01/25/26 – 7pm – The City of Salisbury announced today that the local state of emergency will be lifted effective 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, January 26.
This decision follows the successful completion of necessary response and recovery efforts.
City officials expressed appreciation for the cooperation and resilience shown by residents, businesses and emergency personnel throughout the duration of the emergency declaration.
As previously announced, City offices and buildings will remain closed Monday, January 26. Offices are expected to reopen Tuesday, January 27.
====================================================
UPDATED – 01/25/26 – 01:25pm – A State of Emergency remains in effect for The City of Salisbury.
This declaration will remain in effect until lifted by the City or pending further decisions made by the State of Maryland. Precipitation is expected to continue throughout the day today and there is concern for a refreeze on the roads tonight with the potential for dangerous black ice.
City offices and buildings will be closed Monday, January 26.
Trash and Recycling Collection
- Monday, January 26 pickups will move to Saturday, January 31
- Tuesday, January 27 pickups will move to Wednesday, January 28
Snow Removal and Snow Emergency Route information can be found on the City website.
Road Clearing and Safety
Our Field Operations team is working diligently to clear City roads. Residents are encouraged to stay home if possible and keep snow emergency routes clear for plowing.
Sidewalk and Fire Hydrant Snow Removal
Property owners adjacent to City streets must clear sidewalks within 24 hours after snowfall ends, creating a path at least four feet wide for pedestrian safety. Residents near fire hydrants should clear at least a three-foot-wide space around the hydrant for emergency access. Please do not push or throw snow into the streets, as this makes road clearing more difficult and hazardous.
Essential staff including our heroes at the Salisbury Police Department and Salisbury Fire Department will still report to work. For anyone with City water services who needs to have their water turned off, contact the Salisbury Police Department non-emergency line at 410-548-3165.
For more information on City snow removal and continued updates on the storm, visit us at https://salisbury.md/ or on social media on Facebook or Instagram.
====================================================
UPDATED – 01/25/26 – 12pm – The emergency shelter at James M. Bennett High School is now CLOSED, due to low attendance, that person was transported to HALO. Anyone needing shelter today please go to HALO 119 South Boulevard, Salisbury, MD 21804. A Warming Center will OPEN tomorrow January 26th 8am-4pm at Wicomico Civic Center, 500 Glen Ave, Salisbury. Residents will need to bring their own food, beverages, and medications.
Wicomico County will have extremely cold temperatures through this week. Please remember these winter weather tips:
- Stay home if possible
- Don’t park on streets, to allow plows easy access to clear roadways
- When shoveling take breaks and wear plenty of layers, gloves and cover head, ears, and the lower part of your face to avoid frostbite
- Prepare for power outages: charge cell phones ahead of the storm, have plenty of non-perishable food and water for a few days, batteries for flashlights
- Listen to local radio or television news regularly
- Rooms where a space heater is used should be well ventilated, with the interior door left open. Place heaters at least three feet away from furniture, draperies, and other objects. Be sure to turn off and unplug the heater before leaving the room or going to bed.
For additional information about cold weather shelters in Wicomico County, call 211. For more information on cold weather tips, visit the Wicomico County Health Department’s website at www.wicomicohealth.org and follow@WicomicoHealth on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates.
====================================================
ORIGINAL STORY – 01/24/26 – The City of Salisbury has declared a State of Emergency beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in preparation for the expected winter weather.
This declaration will remain in effect until lifted by the City or pending further decisions made by the State of Maryland.
City Operations
City services will continue most operations as officials monitor the storm.
Trash and Recycling Collection Updates:
- Monday, January 26 pickups will move to Saturday, January 31
- Tuesday, January 27 pickups will move to Wednesday, January 28
As a precaution, The Salisbury Zoo will be closed on Sunday, January 25.
Snow Removal and Snow Emergency Route information can be found on the City website.
Road Clearing and Safety
As the storm progresses, the Field Operations team will work diligently to clear City roads. Residents are encouraged to stay home if possible and keep snow emergency routes clear for plowing. If you live on a designated snow emergency route, please move your vehicle off the street by 1:00 p.m. Saturday to allow for snow removal. Residential streets will be plowed if snow accumulations exceed four inches. We will not be in residential districts until major routes are clear.
Sidewalk and Fire Hydrant Snow Removal
Property owners adjacent to City streets must clear sidewalks within 24 hours after snowfall ends, creating a path at least four feet wide for pedestrian safety.
Residents near fire hydrants should clear at least a three-foot-wide space around the hydrant for emergency access.
Please do not push or throw snow into the streets, as this makes road clearing more difficult and hazardous.
Shelter Information – SHELTER CLOSED SUNDAY
Wicomico County has announced a shelter will be opening tomorrow Saturday, January 24th at 6 p.m. The shelter is located at James M. Bennett High School 300 E College Avenue Salisbury, MD 21804. Residents will need to bring their own food, beverages and medications. Pets will be picked up from the shelter by animal control and taken to another location. The shelter will remain open through Monday, January 26th.
Statewide Preparedness
Maryland Governor, Wes Moore has declared a State of Emergency exists and that preparations must be made for the anticipated significant winter storm expected to begin on January 24.
Having been advised and informed by the Maryland Department of Emergency Management that, as a result of a significant winter storm expected to impact the State beginning Saturday afternoon, January 24, 2026, and continuing through Monday, January 26, 2026, including the risk of heavy snow, icing, hazardous road conditions, power outages and sustained temperatures below freezing persisting through the end of next week, action is needed to prepare to protect the lives and property of Maryland residents and visitors.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
- The Maryland Department of Emergency Management is hereby directed to coordinate the State preparedness and response to impacts of the winter storm
- All other appropriate State authorities are hereby authorized to activate their emergency preparedness plans and engage, deploy, use and coordinate available resources
- The Maryland National Guard is hereby called into State service
For more information on City snow removal and continued updates on the storm, visit us at https://salisbury.md/ or on social media on Facebook or Instagram.