Mayor Menino declares a snow emergency

BOSTON (WHDH) -- In preparation for the potential blizzard, many towns are canceling school and telling non-essential employees to be allowed to stay home on Friday.

Salt and sand trucks filled up on Thursday as Boston Mayor Thomas Menino declared a snow emergency beginning at 12 p.m. on Friday. All public schools were canceled and he urged people to stay home and off the roads.

“The Boston police and the traffic department will be out on the streets of our city notifying the public…to tell people about the snow emergency,” said Menino.

Menino urged residents to keep their vehicles off the roads so the snow plows can do their jobs.

Menino also asked businesses to keep their staff to a minimum to reduce traffic.

City residents with no off-street parking are urged to park in one of several private or municipal garages being opened up -- there will be 15,000 alternative parking spots in the city. Starting at 12 p.m. Friday there is a parking ban on snow emergency routes.

“If you are parked on a snow emergency route in the city of Boston we will tow you,” said Menino.

City officials said they are watching out for the homeless.

“All of our shelters starting tonight will be open for the duration of the storm, 24/7, so there’s absolutely places across the city for people to go get out of the cold,” said Barbara Ferrer, the executive director of the Boston health department.

The mayor also is asking businesses and residents not to shovel the snow from their driveways into the streets. If you’re a business, you will get fined.

The mayor is also asking residents to be conscientious of their neighbors, especially if they are elderly or have disabilities.