Suffolk City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn signed a resolution Friday afternoon declaring a local emergency for this weekend’s severe weather.

The resolution authorizes Cuffee-Glenn and the city’s emergency management coordinator to take whatever steps they feel are necessary to mitigate the impact of the storm.

Both Suffolk Fire and Rescue and Suffolk Police have increased staffing in anticipation of increased calls for service, city spokeswoman Debbie George said. Four-wheel drive vehicles have been reassigned from other city departments and made available for response.

The Department of Public Works has dump trucks with salt and sand spreaders and plows on standby. Graders are available to assist with plowing, and five loaders are in place to load trucks with salt and sand mixture. The number of personnel on both day and evening shifts have been increased.

The sanitation division has 33 operators on standby, ready to assist roadway crews. The Public Works phone number 514-7600 will be manned Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The refuse division phone number 514-7630 will be manned Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Public Works is requesting that cars not be parked in the streets if possible. Keeping cars off the streets will allow for more thorough clearing of the roadway.

The Division of Fleet Management has fueled all its vehicles, and personnel will be available around the clock to ensure that vehicles and equipment remain functional.

The Department of Media and Community Relations will provide regular updates to residents via the media, the city’s Web site, the municipal channel and social networking sites.