>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS
MORNING.
WE WERE JUST ABLE TO MEET WITH
KEY CABINET OFFICIALS AND
PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
KNEW THE STATUS OF BOTH OUR
PREPARATIONS AND WHAT WAS TO
COME.
THE SEATTLE AREA SAW SNOW AND
FREEZING TEMPERATURES BEGINNING
YESTERDAY.
WHILE WE DID NOT GET MUCH
ACCUMULATION, THE REGION DID SEE
SOME EXTRAORDINARILY, AND THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS
REPORTING THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT
READING TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE
AND THERE WILL BE A HEAVY
FREEZE TONIGHT AND INTERMITTENT
SNOW FLURRIES WITH FURTHER
ACCUMULATIONS WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CABINET
ARE WITH US TODAY AND WE WILL
ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS SO THAT
YOU CAN GET FROM EACH OF THE
AREAS IMPACTING THE CITY, BUT I
THINK A COUPLE THINGS I WOULD
LIKE TO EMPHASIZE TO ALL THE
PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN
SEATTLE.
FIRST, PLEASE STAY INFORMED.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE
CHECKING THE NEWS SERVICES TO
DETERMINE WHAT THE FORECAST IS.
IT CAN BE VERY UNPREDICTABLE
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR AND BEING
INFORMED WILL KEEP EVERYONE
MORE SAFE.
AS WE SAID BEFORE, PLEASE
SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALKS.
BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE HAVE THE
LEGAL OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE
SIDEWALKS IN AND AROUND THEIR
BUSINESSES AND HOMES FREE OF
SNOW AND ICE, SO IT IS NOT JUST
THE LAWFUL THING TO DO, IT IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE KNOW IT CAN BECOME
TREACHEROUS IN SEATTLE FOR
PEOPLE TO WALK ON SIDEWALKS AND
IT WILL SERVE EVERYONE AND KEEP
EVERYONE MORE SAFE IF PEOPLE DO
WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
THIRD, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
DRIVE, DO NOT DRIVE.
I WOULD SAY THAT FOR THE ENTIRE
WEEK, PARTICULARLY AS WE SEE
ADDITIONAL STREETS FREEZING
TONIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
PRETREATED, WE CAN OFTEN HAVE
ACCIDENTS AND COLLISIONS, WHICH
CAN CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE HARMED.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE TO CHECK ON
YOUR NEIGHBORS.
IF YOU ARE ABLE-BODIED AND ABLE
TO GET OUT, MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE ARE LIVING AROUND YOU
ARE ALSO SAFE AND HAVE WHAT
THEY NEED TO.
CHECK YOUR FLASHLIGHTS, MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE EMERGENCY KITS
READY AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW
WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE POWER OR
WE GET A MAJOR SNOW EVENT.
AS WE SAID LAST WEEK, WE WILL
BE MORE SAFE IF EVERYONE DOES
THEIR PART.
STAY HOME IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO
TRAVEL COPY SAFE WHEN YOU DO,
CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.
MAKE SURE YOU SHOVEL SIDEWALKS
AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY
WITH FLASHLIGHTS IF WE GET MORE
EVENTS.
AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE HAD A
DRY SNOW AND WE DID NOT LOSE
POWER LIKE MANY AREAS HAVE.
THIS IS A HEAVIER, WET,
FREEZING SNOW.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM AREAS THAT
HAVE BEEN HIT HARDEST THERE ARE
A LOT OF DOWNED POWER LINES.
IT IS IMPORTANT, WE HAVE CITY
LIGHT HERE AND IT IS IMPORTANT
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE READY
IN CASE WE DO HAVE A POWER
OUTAGE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE OUR
COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS
IS GOOD, SO WE HAVE METRO HERE,
WE HAVE SOUND TRANSIT, SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALL THOSE
ENTITIES THAT WE HAVE TO WORK
TOGETHER ARE HERE TO ANSWER
YOUR QUESTIONS.
FINALLY, I REALLY WANT TO
EMPHASIZE, WE NEED TO BRING
EVERYONE INSIDE.
PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS ARE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE DURING THESE EVENTS.
WE HAVE SET UP A NUMBER OF
SHELTER SPACES AND HAVE
CONTINGENCIES TO DO MORE.
WE HAVE OUTREACH PEOPLE WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK TO BRING
PEOPLE INSIDE AND WE WILL TELL
YOU THE NUMBERS YOU CAN CALL IF
YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS HELP.
WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO MAKE SURE WE BRING PEOPLE
INSIDE.
WE HAVE USED OUR EXISTING CITY
BUILDINGS TO INCREASE CAPACITY
AND WE WILL HAVE MORE CAPACITY.
WE ARE DOING MORE OUTREACH TO
BRING PEOPLE INSIDE AND WE WILL
HAVE MORE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO
STAY SAFE.
THIS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
JASON JOHNSON FROM HST WILL
ADDRESS THIS AND WE WILL MAKE
SURE THAT THIS IS FROM THE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND ALL OF
THEM HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN THE
FIELD EVERY DAY.
AND WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE
THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO
BRING PEOPLE INSIDE.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE ROAD
AND WHAT THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION IS DOING TO
KEEP EVERYONE SAFE.>> I'M THE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE
OPERATIONS FOR SDOT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY
FOR SUPPORTING US THROUGH THIS
STORM.
WE STARTED OUR RESPONSE
YESTERDAY AT 12 NOON AND WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TREAT ALL
MAJOR ARTERIAL ROUTES AND ALL
HOSPITAL ROUTES AS WELL AS
SUPPORT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT I
WANT TO THANK THE WEATHER
FORECASTERS FROM YOUR STATIONS
THAT GIVE US THE EARLY WARNING
AND GAVE US A CHANCE TO GET
AHEAD OF THE GAME RIGHT NOW WE
CONTINUE TO HAVE 35 TO 40 LARGE
PLOWS OUT AND WE HAVE SMALLER
EQUIPMENT TO DEAL WITH BUSES
THAT ARE STUCK OR ANYTHING OF
THAT NATURE.
PRIMARILY WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
FREEZE THAW. A LOT OF THIS WILL
TURN TO BLACK ICE WE DON'T WANT
TO BE LULLED INTO A SECURITY
WHERE WE THINK EVERYTHING IS
SAFE BECAUSE THE ROADS LOOK
CLEAR.
THE ROAD COULD BE SLIPPERY IF
IT IS STILL SHINY.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT ON THE SIDEWALKS AND IF
WE ARE OUT THERE DOING OUR PART
WITH THE SIDEWALKS THAT DON'T
HAVE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS,
BUT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY
THAT MAY BE AFFECTED LATER THIS
WEEK, PARTICULARLY WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY, IT MIGHT BE A
GOOD IDEA IF YOU GET OUT THERE
AND PUT SOME SALT OR DEICER ON
YOUR SIDEWALK.
IT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO
SHOVEL OR HELP YOU NEIGHBORS
GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SUPPORT.
>> I AM THE KING COUNTY METRO
GENERAL MANAGER FOR METRO
TRANSIT AND I WOULD LIKE TO
ECHO WHAT RODNEY HAS SAID.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITIES.
WE WELCOME ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE CHOSEN TO RIDE WITH US AND
I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF
OUR SNOW SEASON EVENTS, SO WE
DO NOT WANT TO GET
LACKADAISICAL.
WE WANT TO SEE THIS THROUGH TO
THE END.
KING COUNTY METRO BEGAN THE
SERVICE TODAY BY PUTTING OUR
NORTH AND EAST SERVICES ON SNOW
ROUTES.
WE CHAINED UP AND WITH THE
WEATHER PREDICTION WE DECIDED
IT WOULD BE BETTER TO BE SAFE
THAN SORRY.
AS THE DAY PROGRESSES WE WILL
BEGIN TO TAKE A LOT OF OUR
COACHES OUT OF CHAIN MODE.
WE WILL START AT THE SOUTH AND
WORK NORTH.
THE CRITICAL PLACES ARE THE
NORTH AND EAST REGIONS WHERE WE
WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN ON SNOW
ROUTE UNTIL OUR CONTROL CENTER
DECIDES DIFFERENTLY.
I WOULD ASK CUSTOMERS THAT YOU
SHOULD VISIT METRO WINTER.COM.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO SIGN UP FOR
TRANSIT ALERTS. AND IF YOU MUST
GO OUT PLAN TO USE TRANSIT.
I WANTED TO THANK OUR 3000+
OPERATORS AND MECHANICS IN OUR
FRONTLINE AND CALL CENTER FOR
GETTING OUT AND BEING PREPARED
AND HELPING SERVE OUR CUSTOMER
BASE.
I WOULD SAY AGAIN, IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY DILIGENT
AS A COMMUNITY.
OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM ALONG WITH
THE REGIONAL PARTNERS ARE
PREPARED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH BUS
, RAIL, MARINE, VAN POOL, AND A
HOST OF OTHER WAYS TO MOVE
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY IN A SAFE
MANNER.
METRO WINTER.COM IS YOUR FRIEND
AND GO THERE FOR YOUR SINGLE
POINT OF ENTRY TO GET ALL THE
INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> I AM CHRIS JOHNSON AND I AM
THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
MANAGER. AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT
THIS STORM AND EVERY STORM THAT
WE DEAL WITH, I NEED TO
EMPHASIZE THAT SAFETY IS OUR
FIRST PRIORITY.
WE WANT EVERYONE TO GET TO AND
FROM YOUR DESTINATION AND THAT
GOES FOR OUR CREWS AS WELL AS
THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
FIRST RESPONDERS AS WELL AS THE
SITTING COUNTY PARTNERS
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE WORKED OVERNIGHT TO PLOW AND
TREAT STATE HIGHWAYS. WE DO
MONITOR THE FORECAST TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THE PROPER STAFF
READY TO GO.
TONIGHT WE WILL BE PRETREATING
THE ROADS TO GET AHEAD OF THE
COLD WEATHER THAT IS COMING IN
THE MELT THAT WE MAY GET THIS
AFTERNOON IS THE POTENTIAL FOR
REFREEZE AND I ASK PEOPLE TO BE
AWARE OF THAT ISSUE.
WE HAVE BEEN SHIFTING
RESOURCES.
LAST NIGHT WE DID NOT GET HIT
BAD IN SEATTLE SO WE DID MOVE
SOME RESOURCES TO SOUTH
SNOHOMISH COUNTY TO DEAL WITH
THE CONVERGENCE ZONE SNOW THAT
WE HAD.
WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE PLANNING
TO TRAVEL.
PLEASE STAY ENGAGED AND MAKE
SURE THAT YOU CHECK THE
FORECAST AND CHECK YOUR ROUTE
AND LOOK TO SEE WE ARE HEADING
BEFORE YOU GET OUT ON THE
ROADWAYS.
PLEASE PREPARE FOR THE
CONDITIONS AND MAKE SURE YOU
ARE READY TO GO.
WE HAD SOME SITUATIONS ON
STEVENS PASS LAST NIGHT WITH
PEOPLE THAT WERE RUNNING SHORT
ON GASOLINE.
MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS READY TO
GO.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER
SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND YOU'RE
MECHANICALLY READY TO BE ON THE
ROAD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
AND LET'S ALL BE SAFE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE CEO OF SOUND TRANSIT
AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT
SOUND TRANSIT IS RUNNING VERY
SMOOTHLY THIS MORNING.
THE TRAINS COMING UP FROM
LAKEWOOD IN TACOMA OR DOWN FROM
EVERETT ARE ALL OPERATING AS
PLANNED.
WE DO HAVE FOUR OF OUR BUS
ROUTES ON EMERGENCY SNOW ROUTES
AND I WILL ARTICULATE WHICH
ONES THOSE ARE AT THE END.
VERY IMPORTANTLY, LIGHT RAIL IS
RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
WE NEED TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT
WE ARE IN OUR CONNECT 20/20
PERIOD, 10 WEEKS OF REDUCED
OPERATION WHERE WE WILL BE
RUNNING TRAINS EVERY 14 MINUTES
RATHER THAN EVERY 6 TO 10
MINUTES AS WE WOULD DURING
NORMAL OPERATIONS.
THIS CALLS OUT TO EVERYONE TO
BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT
THEY NEED TO BUNDLE OFF
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO
MOUNT BAKER WE WILL BE EXPOSED
TO THE WEATHER. TO WAIT ON THE
PLATFORM COULD BE AS LONG AS 14
MINUTES.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S
PATIENCE, BUT DURING THE SNOW
EVENT LAST YEAR EVERYTHING RAN
VERY SMOOTHLY.
IT RAN SMOOTHLY BECAUSE WE
COULD RUN ICE TRAINS WE DID THE
SAME THING LAST NIGHT AND WE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME
THING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE THAT
RELIABLE SERVICE THROUGHOUT THIS
THIS YEAR.
WE ARE GOOD OPTION THE TRAINS
WILL BE RUNNING ROUGHLY EVERY
14 MINUTES.
WEAR ON SNOW ROUTES 512, 550,
554 AND 556.
AND CHECK THE SOUND TRANSIT.ORG
WEBSITE AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU
UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE
AVAILABILITY AND TIME FRAMES OF
OUR LIGHT RAIL SERVICE AND THE
RELIABILITY OF THE SOUNDER
TRAINS AND THINGS ARE GOING
WELL AND WE EXPECT THEM TO DO
SO THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR YEAR TIME PERIOD.
>> I AM THE SEATTLE SCHOOLS
OPERATIONS OFFICER AND I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE ARE WELL AWARE OF HOW
IMPORTANT OUR PLANNING IS TO
THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS
EVERYONE ELSE PLANNING HOW
THEIR DAY WILL LOOK AND GETTING
WORD OF OUR DECISION OUT
QUICKLY TO FAMILIES IS VITALLY
IMPORTANT AND WE LEAN ON THE
MEDIA FOR THAT, SO THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR
PARTNERS AND THANK THE MAYOR
AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO
GATHER INFORMATION SO WE CAN
MAKE THAT DECISION EARLIER, AND
FRANKLY THE WORK OF SDOT MADE
THAT DECISION EASIER.
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE
PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE DEVELOPED
AND THE GREAT WORK PEOPLE HAVE
DONE TO RESPOND BETTER TO SNOW
THAT WE HAVE WE STAND UP OUR
OPERATIONS ON FRIDAY TO MAKE
SURE WE GATHER THE TEAM AND WE
PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR
ABOUT HALF OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
SUMMER WITH PASSENGER VEHICLES
AND OUR TRANSIT PARTNERS.
WE GATHERED OUR TEAMS AND WE
HAVE TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO
104 SCHOOLS IN ALL KINDS OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WE ARE VERY
COGNIZANT OF THE MICROCLIMATES
IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS ACROSS
THE CITY.
FOR US IT IS A BINARY DECISION
WERE EITHER ALL SCHOOLS ARE
STARTING LATE OR WE ARE
CANCELING CLASSES, WE NEED TO
DO THE SAME THING ACROSS THE
DISTRICT.
STARTING ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
WE BEGAN MONITORING ROAD
TEMPERATURES, THE WEATHER
FORECAST AND WE WERE
ANTICIPATING WITH CALLS BY THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
AT 2 AM THIS MORNING WE HAD OUR
DRIVERS, THE SNOW DRIVERS, WHO
PTROL PREDETERMINED ROUTES OF
SCHOOLS AT THE HIGHEST
ELEVATIONS OR HAVE STEEP GRADES
WERE WE KNOW WE HAVE CHRONIC
PROBLEMS AS FAR AS
ACCESSIBILITY TO SCHOOLS.
OUR TRANSIT COMPANY GOES TO
SNOW ROUTES, BUT WE DELIVER
KIDS TO SCHOOLS AND IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT ACCESS TO
SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AND WE END UP
PUTTING FAIRLY LARGE VEHICLES
ON VERY NARROW STREETS.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
WILL BE SAFER TRAVELING AND
SAFER EVERYBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY
AND THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS
SAFETY FOR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE PRESCHOOLERS AND
KINDERGARTNERS USING OUR
TRANSIT PROGRAMS SO WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
COMFORTABLE THAT EVERYONE BE
SAFE.
TODAY THERE WERE SOME ICY
CONDITIONS AROUND SOME SCHOOLS
AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS THAT WE
FELT WOULD BENEFIT FROM A BUMP
IN TEMPERATURE AFTER THE SUN
CAME UP AND MORE TRAFFIC, SO
EVERYONE COULD USE THE TIME FOR
A TWO HOUR DELAY WE DO THIS ON
A ROLLING 24 HOUR BASIS.
SO AT 2 PM TODAY WE WILL GATHER
THE TEAM AGAIN AND GET GEARED
UP TO DO THIS ALL OVER AGAIN
AND WE WORK VERY HARD TO HAVE
OUR DECISION KNOWN TO THE
PUBLIC BY 3:40 5 AM AND WE WORK
WITH THE MEDIA TO GET THIS WORD
OUT.
WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FREEZING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE AS
VISIBLE, BUT THE ROAD
CONDITIONS, SIDEWALK CONDITIONS
ARE THE BIGGEST CONCERN AND
STAY TUNED AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM
US EARLY TOMORROW MORNING.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING, JASON JOHNSON
WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT.
LAST NIGHT WE ACTIVATED OUR
SEVERE WEATHER SHELTER AND
OPENED ADDITIONAL CAPACITY AT
THE SEATTLE CENTER EXHIBITION
HALL.
A TOTAL OF 86 PEOPLE USED THAT
ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER
SHELTER CAPACITY AND THAT
SHELTER WILL REMAIN OPEN EVERY
NIGHT THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK,
CLOSING MONDAY MORNING JANUARY
20.
THIS IS A LOW BARRIER SHELTER
OPEN TO ALL ADULTS.
THIS IS NOT A FAMILY SHELTER
AND DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE
CHILDREN.
THE SALVATION ARMY IS STAFFING
THE SHELTER AND WE ARE THANKFUL
FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP TO KEEP
THAT IMPORTANT RESOURCE (
LIKEWISE, THE CITY HAS
PARTNERED WITH KING COUNTY TO
OPEN ADDITIONAL BEDS AT THE
KING COUNTY ADMIN BUILDING.
THIS IS 50 BEDS AND 18 PEOPLE
STAYED THERE LAST NIGHT.
THAT SHELTER IS SCHEDULED TO
REMAIN OPEN THROUGH WEDNESDAY,
AND, AGAIN, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
KING COUNTY WE WILL BE WATCHING
THE WEATHER CLOSELY TO SEE IF
WE NEED TO KEEP THAT SHELTER
RESOURCE OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME.
ALL OF THE SHELTER BEDS AT CITY
HALL ARE ALSO STILL AVAILABLE.
THAT SHELTER WAS AT FULL
CAPACITY LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND HOURS AT
THE CITY HALL SHELTER, INCLUDING
KEEPING THE SHELTER OPEN UNTIL
8 AM THIS MORNING SO PEOPLE DID
NOT HAVE TO LEAVE DURING THE
FREEZING TEMPERATURES AT 6 AM.
COMMUNICATION HAS GONE OUT TO
ALL OF THE CITY FUNDED OUTREACH
TEAMS INCLUDING THE NAVIGATION
TEAM.
THEY HAVE WORKED THROUGHOUT THE
WEEKEND AND CONTINUE TO BE
DEPLOYED TODAY.
THEY ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT
ANYONE LIVING ON SHELTERED GOES
INSIDE.
WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH
ANYONE WHO IS LIVING OUTDOORS
AND LIVING IN A TENT AS THE
TEMPERATURES TODAY ARE EXPECTED
TO GET DANGEROUSLY LOW.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY KNOWS AND ASK FOR THE
HELP THAT IF YOU ARE LIVING
OUTDOORS, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF ADDITIONAL SHELTER CAPACITY
AND GO INSIDE.
IF YOU SEE SOMEONE LIVING
OUTDOORS AND YOU SEE SOMEONE
LIVING ON SHELTERED IN YOUR
COMMUNITY, THERE IS A FULL LIST
OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS AVAILABLE
ON THE CRISIS CLINIC'S WEBSITE
AND THAT IS CRISIS
CONNECTIONS.ORG.
YOU CAN SIMPLY DIAL 211 AND GET
A FULL LIST OF AVAILABLE
SHELTERS THAT ARE OPEN
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS OPENED
ADDITIONAL SHELTER CAPACITIES
BUT SO HAVE OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THE FULL LIST OF ADDITIONAL
SHELTER CAPACITY CAN BE
ACCESSED THROUGH THE CRISIS
CLINIC.
FINALLY, I WANT TO SHARE THAT
WE HAVE ASKED ALL OF OUR
SHELTER PARTNERS, ALL OF THE
CITY CONTRACTED PARTNERS, TO
MAKE ANY AND ALL AVAILABLE
SPACE OPEN AND TO NOT TURN
ANYONE AWAY.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ANYONE
SEEKING SHELTER HAS ACCESS TO
AN INDOOR BED.
WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH
KING COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT
SPACES ARE OPEN DURING THE DAY,
SPECIFICALLY THEY HAVE OPENED A
DAY CENTER DURING THE DAY AT
FOURTH AND JEFFERSON WHICH CAN
ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE USING
DOWNTOWN EMERGENCY SHELTERS
DURING THE DAY.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER WITH
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
THE CITY LIGHT SYSTEM IS NOT
EXPERIENCING ANY WEATHER-RELATED
SYSTEM DISRUPTIONS SO I HAVE
FOUR QUICK POINTS.
ONE, AS THE MERE MENTION, BE
PREPARED FOR POTENTIAL POWER
OUTAGES, AND ESPECIALLY ALL
WINTER LONG.
THAT MEANS BLANKETS, BATTERIES,
FULLY CHARGED DEVICES, AND THAT
IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.
IF THERE IS AN OUTAGE, MONITOR
THE STATUS ON OUR OUTAGE MAP
AND YOU JUST NEED TO TYPE INTO
GOOGLE SEATTLE CITY LIGHT
OUTAGE MAP AND IT WILL SHOW YOU
AT THE TOP HOW MANY DISRUPTIONS
WE HAVE AND HOW MANY CUSTOMERS
MIGHT BE OUT.
YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL AREA.
IF YOU SEE A DOWNED POWER LINE,
STAY 35 FEET AWAY FROM IT AND
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
IF YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH A
DOWNED POWER LINE IN YOUR
VEHICLE, STAY IN THE CAR.
MAKE THE CALL AND LET OUR
PEOPLE COME IN MAKE IT SAFE SO
YOU CAN MOVE ON WITH YOUR DAY.
WE ARE GEARED UP AND PREPARED
AND THE CONTACT CENTER IS
STAFFED AND IF WE DO EXPERIENCE
OUTAGES, WE ARE PREPARED TO
WORK 24 SEVEN TO GET PEOPLE
BACK ON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD MORNING, I WITH SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT OUR
OPERATIONS, WATER, DRAINAGE AND
WASTE WATER AND SOLID WASTE ARE
OPERATING UNDER NORMAL
CONDITIONS. THE TRANSFER
STATIONS ARE OPEN AND THERE
MIGHT BE POCKETS IN THE CITY
WHERE THE COLLECTORS MIGHT NOT
BE ABLE TO GET TO.
JUST A REMINDER TO LEAVE YOUR
GARBAGE OUT IN THE NEXT DAY AND
IT WILL BE PICKED UP.
IF IT IS NOT TICKED UP BY THE
END OF THE SECOND DAY, BRING IT
IN AND IT WILL BE PICKED UP ON
THE NEXT NORMAL PICKUP DAY.
ANY EXPOSED PIPES AS WE ENTER
INTO THESE FREEZING CONDITIONS,
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE
PROTECTED.
OUTDOOR FAUCETS, AND IF YOU'RE
OUT THERE SHOVELING YOUR
SIDEWALK, IF YOU COULD TAKE ONE
MORE SHOVELFUL DURING THE
DRAINS, THAT COULD BE HELPFUL
WITH THE STANDING WATER
POSSIBLY FREEZING OVERNIGHT, SO
KEEPING THOSE DRAINS CLEAR.
SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ABLE TO DO
THAT IN A SAFEWAY.
I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE
MAYOR FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WANTS TO
STRESS AGAIN, DO NOT BRING IN
BARBECUES TO HEAT YOUR HOME.
HE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.
IF YOU HAVE SPACE HEATERS
PLUGGED IN, MAKE SURE THAT YOU
UNPLUG THEM AT VARIOUS TIMES
BECAUSE THEY CAN LEAD TO FIRES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE HEALTH
ONES ARE OPERATING AND WE ARE
IN NORMAL OPERATIONS BUT THEY
ARE THE EYES AND EARS OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP A SAFE.
WE LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS FROM
LAST YEAR THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
IMPROVE UPON.
ONE THING IS IF A SEATTLE
POLICE OFFICER SEES THAT I
WROTE NEEDS TO BE CLOSED, THEY
HAVE A WAY TO CONTACT SDOT
IMMEDIATELY. WE WILL BE WORKING
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP
PEOPLE SAFE NOT JUST IN SEATTLE
BUT IN THE REGION.
WE ARE VERY INTERCONNECTED AS
EVERYONE KNOWS.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT
PREPARATION HAS PAID OFF.
IN TERMS OF SHELTERS, WE HAVE
PRE-POSITIONED FOOD AT SOME OF
THE CENTERS IN CASE WE NEED TO
OPEN THEM THIS WEEK.
WE ARE HOPING TO STAY AHEAD OF
WHATEVER THE WEATHER CAN BRING
US.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME OR
ANYONE ELSE UP HERE.
>> COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE
NAVIGATIONS OUTREACH PLAN? IF
SOMEONE DECLINES SHELTER, WHAT
DOES THE TEAM DO?
>> JASON, DO YOU WANT TO
ADDRESS THAT.>> AS I MENTIONED,
, THE NAVIGATION TEAM HAS BEEN
OUT ALL WEEKEND AND CONTINUES
TO BE OUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE OUT WITH MATERIALS, SO
SOCKS AND BLANKETS AND HAND
WARMERS AND FOOD, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE TRYING TO
ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO INSIDE.
THEY HAVE LISTS OF ALL OF THE
INDOOR SHELTER RESOURCES AND
THEY WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY
CAN TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO
INDOORS.
THEY CANNOT FORCE PEOPLE INDOORS
, AND SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE
PEOPLE THAT DECLINED TO TAKE
SHELTER.
IN THOSE CASES THEY WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE
AS POSSIBLE AND THAT THEY HAVE
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND THAT
THEY WILL BE RECONNECTING WITH
THOSE PEOPLE TO GO INDOORS.
WE WANT EVERYONE LIVING ON
SHELTERED TO COME INSIDE DURING
THIS DANGEROUSLY COLD WEATHER.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY NUMBERS?
>> I DO NOT.
>> WE GOT THE NUMBERS FROM
OVERNIGHT WHICH I SHARED, AND
WE KNOW THAT TODAY THE
NAVIGATION TEAM AND ALL OF OUR
CONTRACTED TEAMS ARE DEPLOYED
AND TRYING TO GET AS MANY
PEOPLE INDOORS AS POSSIBLE.
>> ARE THEY DEPLOYED IN CERTAIN
PARTS OF THE CITY?
>> THEY ARE DOING OUTREACH.
THE NAVIGATION TEAM IS DOING
OUTREACH IN PLACES WHERE WE
KNOW THAT THERE ARE LARGE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE CONGREGATING.
SO LARGE ENCAMPMENTS.
THERE BEING DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE CITY.>> YOU MENTIONED
EXPANDED SHELTERS. OCCUPANCY
AND FIRE SAFETY RULES ARE THEY
BEING SUSPENDED DURING THIS
COLD WEATHER TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE ARE NOT TURNED AWAY?
>> THEY ARE NOT.
WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ANY
ADDITIONAL CAPACITY THAT THE
CITY HAS OPENED, THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT HAS GONE IN TO MAKE
SURE THAT THINGS ARE SAFE AND
THAT WE ARE OPERATING WITH
INCAPACITY.
>> SO PEOPLE COME TO A SHELTER
AND IT IS FULL, WHAT HAPPENS
THEN?
BUT THAT PROBABLY LOOKS
DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT
PROVIDERS.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS
IN PLACE.
MARY'S PLACE, THEY ARE USING A
PROTOCOL THAT TURNS NO ONE AWAY.
THEY ARE USING ALL OF THEIR
AVAILABLE SPACE THEY'RE USING
ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO MAKE
SURE THAT FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN ARE INDOORS AND SAFE.
>> ONE THING TO ADD TO THAT,
ONE THING WE SAW LAST WINTER WE
HAD A LONGER PERIOD OF SNOW WAS
THAT AS SHELTERS EXPANDED THEIR
OWN CAPACITY, THEY WERE ABLE TO
CALL THE CITY OR OTHER SERVICES
SO WE COULD BRING THEM TO
ADDITIONAL SHELTERS THAT WE
WERE OPENING UP.
SO WE HAVE TRIED TO CREATE THAT
CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE
PROVIDER COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO
THE CITY AND COUNTY RESOURCES
SO WE DON'T NOT ONLY JUST TURN
PEOPLE AWAY, BUT WE HAVE OTHER
PLACES FOR THEM TO GO.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN
CHECKING THE PLACES AND THEY'VE
BEEN THROUGH ALREADY TO MAKE
SURE SMOKE DETECTORS ARE
WORKING AND THAT THERE IS A SAFE
INGRESS AND EGRESS AND THAT THE
ABILITY TO FEED PEOPLE WILL BE
DONE SAFELY AS WELL.
>> ARE YOU ACCEPTING DONATIONS
AND YOU PREFER MATERIALS OR
MONIES?>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD
QUESTION.
WE TAKE BOTH BUT EACH ONE DISH
I WILL LET JASON ANSWER THAT.
FOR THE SHORT TERM IT IS A
DIFFERENT ANSWER THAN FOR THE
LONG-TERM.>> A GOOD QUESTION.
MANAGING DONATIONS CAN BE A JOB
IN AND OF ITSELF.
WE ARE ASKING THAT ANYONE IN
THE COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO
MAKE DONATIONS, TO USE THE
UNITED WAY AND MAKE DONATIONS
DIRECTLY THROUGH THEM.
WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PORTAL ON
THE UNITED WAY WEBSITE WHERE
PEOPLE CAN MAKE DONATIONS TO
THE EMERGENCY WEATHER EFFORTS.
WE ARE ASKING THAT PEOPLE NOT
DONATE ITEMS TO ANY OF THE
SHELTERS DIRECTLY AND INSTEAD
COORDINATE WITH UNITED WAY.>>
WHEN YOU ARE OUT WITH THE
NAVIGATION TEAM, ARE YOU
MONITORING OPEN FIRES AND
INSPECTING HOW THEY ARE
MAINTAINED OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT TO PRETEND PREVENT
POTENTIAL FIRES?
>> THAT IS PART OF THEIR
REGULAR WORK.
THERE ALWAYS MONITORING THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY
RELATED TO ANYONE WHO IS LIVING
ON SHELTERED.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE FOCUSED
ON GETTING PEOPLE INDOORS.
THE PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE TO
TRY AND ENCOURAGE ANYONE LIVING
ON SHELTERED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF ADDITIONAL SHELTER
CAPACITIES.>> I KNOW YOU DON'T
HAVE THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, BUT
HAS ANYONE COME ACROSS PEOPLE
WITH CONDITIONS LIKE FROSTBITE
DUE TO THE COLD?
>> I DO NOT HAVE ANY REPORTS.
>> ANY LAST QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR METRO.
I NOTICED THE D LINE WAS SO
CROWDED THEY WERE NOT STOPPING
TO PICK UP PEOPLE.
ARE YOU PUTTING ON EXTRA BUSES?
>> AS WE CAN WE WILL ADD EXTRA
SERVICE.
OUR TRANSIT CONTROL CENTER IS
THE CENTRAL HUB FOR WHAT IS
HAPPENING OUT ON THE SURFACE
AND AS THEY CAN THEY WILL ADD
ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
WE ARE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL
SERVICES AS WELL FOR THE LINK
SERVICE FOR 2020, SO CAPACITY
IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW.
BUT AS WE CAN WE WILL ADDRESS
CROWDING.
>> ARE THERE METRO ROUTES ON
SNOW ROUTES NOW?>> THE NORTH
AND EAST QUARTER OF THE COUNTY
ARE ON SNOW ROUTES.>> DOES THE
BUS RECORD IF IT IS A SNOW
ROUTE?>> I CANNOT SAY IF ONE
BUS AWAY IS DOING THAT.
IF THEY ARE NOT, I WOULD SAY GO
TO METRO WINTER.COM TO BE SURE.
AND I WOULD SAY FOR SPECIFIC
ROUTES SIGN UP FOR TRANSIT
ALERTS SO THAT YOU ARE
IMMEDIATELY IN THE KNOW ON
EVERY STEP OF YOUR JOURNEY.
>> IS THE NAVIGATION TEAM GOING
TO PAUSE CLEANUP WORK THIS WEEK
DURING THE COLD?
>> AS I MENTIONED,, THE
PRIORITY TODAY AND THROUGHOUT
THIS WEEK WILL BE TO CONNECT
PEOPLE TO INDOOR SHELTERS.
AND SO THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT
IN THE SCHEDULE, BUT THE
PRIORITY WILL BE TO CONNECT AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO THE
ADDITIONAL SHELTER CAPACITY.
THEY WILL MOST LIKELY BE
DEPLOYED AND HAVE THEIR HANDS
FULL CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
>> LAST QUESTION?
>> I'M THINKING OF QUEEN ANNE
HILL ROAD.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO PUT OUT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PREFER THAT
PEOPLE GO SLEDDING IN THE
STREETS.
>> WE PREFER THAT PEOPLE DON'T
GO SLEDDING IN THE STREETS.
EVERY YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN
ACCIDENTS AND SOMETIMES FATAL
OR TRAGIC ONES.
IT IS A GOOD REMINDER THAT WILL
BE DO CLOSE THE STREETS,
PARTICULARLY IF WE GET ANOTHER
SNOW EVENT, A CLOSED SIGN MEANS
IT IS CLOSED AND YOU SHOULD
STAY OFF BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE
TO TRAVEL.
IF YOU WANT TO GO SLEDDING,
STAY IN THE PARKS, BUT DO NOT
GO SLEDDING IN THE STREETS.
STAY SAFE.
IT IS ALL ABOUT SAFETY, AND IF
WE USE COMMON SENSE IT WILL GO
A LONG WAYS TO BEING BETTER OFF
THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU.