Capital nearly completely operational one week after storm

While some residents are still without power, police say capital should return to normal operations within 24 hours.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Snow remains on ground in Jerusalem 370 (photo credit: Amy Spiro)
Snow remains on ground in Jerusalem 370
(photo credit: Amy Spiro)
Nearly a week after one of the most devastating winter storms to strike Jerusalem in decades largely incapacitated the capital, the municipality and police said Wednesday the city should be fully operational no later than Thursday.
While some city residents remain without power, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that the Israel Electric Corporation is actively coordinating with the municipality to restore electricity to remote homes once surrounded by snow and ice.
“We hope to have electricity back to normal in badly damaged areas very shortly,” he said.
Rosenfeld added that all roads and highways to and within Jerusalem have been reopened, Egged buses are functioning on a regular schedule, and with the exception of east Jerusalem’s Pisgat Ze’ev stop, the light rail has normalized operations.
“Things should be fully functional within 24 hours,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement Wednesday that the municipality continues to be fully engaged around the clock to restore the city to normalcy as soon as possible.
“The municipality is currently engaged with all elected officials, city managers and employees to respond to the plight of all residents and return the city to normal,” the statement read.
Noting the dissatisfaction among residents about the city’s lack of preparedness for the unusual blizzard, the statement added that the mayor intends to oversee a comprehensive report delineating lessons learned from shortcomings in dealing with the storm.
“The municipality is dedicated to drawing professional lessons in order to improve and streamline various processes in the future, together with all the relevant parties involved,” it stated.
The statement added that the municipality will publish its findings after the capital is fully recovered, and will answer all questions from the public at that time.