>>> FOLLOWED BY DIRECTOR OF THE
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
CURRY MAYOR.
FOLLOWED BY DIRECTOR OF SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
SAM ZIMBABWE.
FOLLOWED BY MICHELLE ALLISON,
KING COUNTY METRO DEPUTY GM
FOLLOWED BY PETER ROGOFF SOUND
TRANSIT CEO AND DAVE McCORMICK
ASSISTANT REGIONAL
ADMINISTRATOR FOR MAIN NANCE
AND WSDOT AND THEN WE WILL HEAR
FROM DIRECTOR HELEN HOWELL,
HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL DO A Q&A.
I HAVE RECEIVED ONLY A FEW
RSVPs FOR MEDIA Q AND A TODAY.
PLEASE DROP A NOTE IN THE CHAT
BEFORE THE END OF THE RUN OF
SHOW AND I WILL READ YOU IN.
WE ALSO HAVE DIRECTORS --
CHIEFS SCOGGINS AND CHIEF DIAZ
WHO ARE HERE -- AVAILABLE FOR
Q&A AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO MAYOR JENNY DURKAN.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY AND THANK
YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US AT
THIS VIRTUAL EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTER BRIEFING.
AS YOU KNOW FROM THE
INTRODUCTIONS, EVENTS LIKE THIS
CROSS -- CUT ACROSS ALL OF OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY
PEOPLE HERE IF YOU NEED TO HAVE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
WE SAW YESTERDAY AND OVER THE
NIGHT THAT WE DID GET SOME
FLURRIES OF SNOW BUT NOT MUCH
ACCUMULATION.
WE ARE EXPECTING MUCH LARGER
SNOW AMOUNTS THIS EVENING INTO
TOMORROW WITH AS MANY AS 7
INCHES IN THE SEATTLE AREA.
HIGHER ELEVATIONS MAY GET MORE.
LOWER ELEVATIONS MAY GET LESS.
BUT THAT'S THE BEST ESTIMATE AT
THIS POINT.
WE ALSO KNOW THE TEMPERATURE
WILL REMAIN BELOW FREEZING FOR
SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS SNOW COULD STICK AROUND
FOR A WHILE.
COUPLED WITH THAT SNOW IS ALSO
A WINDCHILL FACTOR THAT WILL
MAKE IT COLDER OUTSIDE THAN THE
ACTUAL TEMPERATURE.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL OF
OUR DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE'RE READY FOR THIS EVENT
AND IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT
EVENT FOR SEATTLE.
CITY LIGHT AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HAVE BEEN WORKING TO NOT JUST
GET THE ROADS READY BUT TO BE
NECESSARY IF THERE'S ANY POWER
OUTAGES.
OR IMPACTS TO OUR ROADS.
SDOT HAS UPDATED ITS SNOW
ROUTES AND YOU WILL HEAR SAM
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
PARTICULARLY THOSE INVOLVING
WEST SEATTLE BECAUSE OF THE
OUTAGE OF THE UPPER WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE.
WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR VACCINE CLINICS AND COVID-
19 TESTING SITES CAN REMAIN
OPEN.
WE'LL BE DOING OUR BEST EFFORTS
TO DO THAT.
BUT GETTING TO THOSE SITES
REQUIRES SOME PEOPLE TO GET OUT
OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IF
YOU ARE DRIVING, PLEASE KNOW
THAT WE WILL NOT BE PLOWING THE
ROADS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND
EVERY ROAD.
WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON OUR MOST
IMPORTANT ROUTES AND THOSE ARE
THE ROUTES IN ORDER TO KEEP
TRANSIT MOVING.
THE HUMAN SERVICES AND PARKS
DEPARTMENTS HAVE OPENED
EMERGENCY SHELTERS AT FOUR
LOCATIONS TO BRING MORE PEOPLE
INSIDE.
DURING THIS STORM EVENT.
THE SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S
HEALTH ONE HAS BEEN OUT
OPERATING 24/7 AND WILL BE
DOING SO THROUGH SUNDAY TO TRY
TO BRING PEOPLE INSIDE OR GET
THEM ASSISTANCE IF THEY NEED
IT.
SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
REPORTED A SMALL NUMBER OF
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN FOUR
NEIGHBORHOODS, RAINIER BEACH,
STEWART PARK, GREEN LAKE AND
WALLINGFORD HAD DELAYS IN THEIR
SERVICES DUE TO DRIVERS, FOR
THE TRUCKS, NOT BEING ABLE TO
GET IN BECAUSE OF THE SNOW.
IF YOUR HOUSEHOLD WAS IMPACTED,
PLEASE LEAVE YOUR PANS OUTSIDE
UNTIL SATURDAY NIGHT.
AND IF WE CAN COLLECT THEM.
WE WILL.
IF WE CAN'T, BRING THEM BACK IN
AND THEN PUT THEM BACK OUT AT
THE CURB AT THE REGULAR TIME
NEXT WEEK.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OUR
RESPONSES SINCE OUR HISTORIC
2019 SNOWSTORM.
AND THERE'SSEVERAL WAYS THAT
RESIDENTS CAN HELP WITH OUR
CRISIS RESPONSE.
IF YOU CAN STAY HOME, PLEASE
DO.
I KNOW OVER THE LAST YEAR,
WE'VE ALL BEEN STAYING HOME
MOSTLY.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
STAY OFF THE ROADS AND NOT
DRIVE UNLESS IT'S AN ABSOLUTE
EMERGENCY.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE ROADS
ARE SAFE FOR BUSES, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOR OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS IF THERE ARE
EMERGENCIES.
SIGN UP FOR ALERT SEATTLE.
IT'S BEST WAY TO KNOW UP-TO-
DATE INFORMATION ABOUT ROAD
CLOSURES AND THE WEATHER AND
ANYTHING RELATED TO CITY
SERVICES.
AND ALSO, PLEASE, I SAID IT
YESTERDAY AND WE SAID IT AT OUR
LAST EVENT, CHECK IN ON YOUR
NEIGHBORS PARTICULARLY AFTER
ELDERLY OR DISABLED.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING OKAY IN
THE EVENT.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHOVING
THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF YOUR
HOUSE AND YOUR HOME.
AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBOR DO
THEIRS AS WELL.
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO KEEP OUR
CITY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
AND REMEMBER, WE'RE STILL IN
THE MIDST OF COVID.
SO NO GATHERINGS INSIDE WITH
PEOPLE TO HAVE YOUR COCOA AND
ENJOY THE SNOW THAT WAY.
REALLY KEEP YOUR SAME EMERGENCY
POD.
YOUR QUARANTINE INTACT, WEAR
YOUR MASK AND WASH YOUR HANDS
AND KEEP YOUR PHYSICAL
DISTANCE.
WE'VE DONE SO WELL SEATTLE AND
EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE GOING TO
CHALLENGE US AGAIN BUT I'M
CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE IT THERE.
WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN IT
OVER TO DIRECTOR MAYOR HEAD OF
THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR DURKAN.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, WE ARE
EXPECTING A VERY BIG STORM OVER
THE WEEKEND.
AND THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES.
KNOW THAT YOUR EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS CENTER IS WORKING
WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS
SO WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE MOST
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THIS
SNOW AND WE'LL BE UPDATING YOU
AS NECESSARY.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
WILL BE ACTIVATING VIRTUALLY
TOMORROW STARTING AT 8:30 IN
THE MORNING.
AN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
CENTER IS A CENTRAL LOCATION
POINT FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS AND
OUR PARTNER AGENCIES THROUGHOUT
THE REGION.
TO RESPOND TO THE STORM.
OUR FOCUS WILL BE TO ENSURE A
HOLISTIC AND EQUITABLE AND
COORDINATED RESPONSE TO
MANAGING THE IMPACTS FROM THE
SNOWSTORM.
THE EOC WILL STAY OPEN FOR AS
LONG AS NEEDED.
AND AS ADDITIONAL STORMS
APPROACH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO
ASSESS WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED
TO STAY OPEN.
SO ENJOY THE SNOW THIS WEEKEND.
BY STAYING HOME, GO OUTSIDE AND%
THROW SOME SNOWBALLS BUT STAY
WITH YOUR POD.
IF YOU MUST GO OUT, DRIVE
SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY.
AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES IN YOUR CAR
SO FOOD, WATER, WARM CLOTHES,
BOOTS, A BLANKET, A FLASHLIGHT,
AND A PHONE CHARGER.
AND IF YOU HAVE PETS, THAT'S
PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP
THEM INSIDE IF YOU CAN.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR MAYOR.
WE'LL NOW BE TURNING IT OVER TO
DIRECTOR SAM ZIMBABWE.
>> THANK YOU ANTHONY.
SDOT BEGAN PRETREATING ROADS
OVERNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY.
WEAVE BEEN WORKING FOR 48
STRAIGHT HOURS AND WILL
CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND
TREMENDOUS TREAT ALONG THE SNOW
ROUTES AND OUR CRITICAL SAFETY
ROUTES AND ACCESS TO COVID-19
TESTING AND VACCINE SITES.
RIGHT NOW, ALL OF OUR ARTERIAL
SNOW ROUTES ARE CLEAR AND WE'VE
REPEATEDLY GONE OUT AND --
CHECKED CONDITIONS AND MADE
SURE THAT WE HAVE PRETREATMENT
OUT.
WE'VE ALSO DEPLOYED CREWS TO
CLEAR AND PRETREAT BIKE LANES,
OVERPASSES, STAIRWELLS AND CURB
RAMPS THAT ARE NOT NEAR PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
AS I SAID THE OTHER DAY, WE
CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE.
AND THERE MAY BE ICY CONDITIONS
OUT THERE.
WE HAD SOME ICY CONDITIONS THIS
MORNING.
PLEASANT CONTINUE TO USE
CAUTION AND TAKE IT SLOW AND
WATCH OUT FOR OTHERS AND DON'T
TRAVEL IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
AS THE SNOW STARTS TO FALL
WE'LL CLEAR IT AS QUICKLY AS WE
CAN.
THE FEWER PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT
AND ABOUT, THE EASIER OUR JOBS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
SO TAKE CARE AS YOU TRAVEL IF
YOU NEED TO, AND BE MINDFUL OF
PLOWS AND CREWS OUT WITH LARGE
EQUIPMENT.
AND STAY SAFE EVERYBODY.
>> HEY SAM, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO
SAY ABOUT THOSE SIGNS THAT SAY
"ROAD CLOSED BECAUSE OF SNOW"?
IS THAT JUST A FRIENDLY
SUGGESTION?
>> THAT'S MORE THAN -- THAT'S
MORE THAN A FRIENDLY
SUGGESTION.
IF WE HAVE ROAD CLOSED SIGNS
OUT, PLEASE DON'T GO DOWN THOSE
STREETS.
IT'S THERE FOR A REASON.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT SLEDDING IN
THE STREET?
>> WE HAVE PLENTY OF GREAT
PARKS WITH HILLS THAT ARE GREAT
FOR SLEDDING.
PLEASE DON'T USE OUR STREETS
FOR SLEDDING.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR ZIMBABWE
AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR THOSE
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS.
WE LO NOW TURN IT OVER TO
MICHELLE ALLISON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU
FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE
TODAY.
METRO IS WORKING IN CLOSE
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARTNERS
HERE ON THIS CALL INCLUDING
SDOT, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE
TRACKING AND MONITORING THE
CONDITIONS.
AND WE ARE HOPING TO EXPERIENCE
A BIT OF A QUIET COMMUTE THIS
EVENING.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IN ANY WEATHER
EVENT, CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE
RAPIDLY.
SO WE WILL BE TAKING CARE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADJUSTING
OUR SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE TO
THE WEATHER AND ITS CHANGES.
WHICH OFTEN MEANS THAT WE WILL
NEED TO CHAIN UP OUR BUSES AND
MAY BELIEVE DEVIATE FROM A
ROUTE PATH OR CHANGE THE
SCHEDULE.
WE ASK FOLKS TO CHECK
METROWINTER.COM TO MAKE SURE
YOUR SCHEDULED TRIP AND YOUR
STOP IN THE CONDITIONS SORT OF
MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR
TRANSPORTATION.
WE ALSO LIKE OTHERS WHO HAVE
MENTIONED ON THIS CALL, WOULD
ASK THAT FOLKS WHO DON'T NEED
TO TAKE A TRIP TO STAY HOME.
BOTH TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
CAPACITY AND TO KEEP OTHER
FOLKS WHO DO NEED TO MAKE A
TRANSIT TRIP -- IT'S AVAILABLE
TO THEM.
REMEMBER TO DRESS WARMLY AND
ALLOW FOR EXTRA TIME AND YOUR
PLANS FOR YOUR TRIP, AND PLEASE
DO REMEMBER WE ARE STILL
TRAVELING IN COVID TIMES AND
WOULD ASK THAT EVERYONE WEAR A
MASK WHILE ON OUR TRANSIT
SYSTEM.
THAT'S REQUIRED PART OF YOUR
TRANSIT EXPERIENCE.
SO PLEASE THANK YOU FOR BEING
SORT OF AWARE AND APPRECIATIVE
OF OUR OPERATORS AS THEY'RE
WORKING IN BOTH SNOW EVENT AND
COVID-19 CONDITIONS.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR JUST
TAKING A LITTLE EXTRA CAUTION
AND DO PLEASE CHECK
METROWINTER.COM TO PLAN
ACCORDINGLY.
STAY SAFE AND STAY WARM.
>> THANK YOU.
MICHELLE.
AND OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE
PETER ROGOFF.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ANDREW AND
YOU ARE ALL GOING TO HEAR A
THEME HERE AND THAT IS PLEASE
DON'T TRAM IF YOU DON'T HAVE
TO.
BUT WE'RE HERE FOR YOU IF YOU
DO.
AND IMPORTANTLY, THE BEST
ADVICE I THINK WE CAN GIVE ALL
TRAVELERS IS TO CONSULT THESE
WEBSITES AND RIDER ALERTS SO
THEY KNOW WHAT SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE AND WHICH ARE NOT.
YOU HEARD THE MAYOR TALK ABOUT
ALERT SEATTLE AND YOU HEARD
MICHELLE ALLISON TALK ABOUT
METROWINTER.COM.
I REALLY WANT TO DIRECT SOUND
TRANSIT USERS TO
SOUNDTRANSIT.ORG BECAUSE IF YOU
ARE NOT ALREADY RECEIVING OUR
RIDER ALERTS, THEY GO RIGHT TO
YOUR PHONE.
THEY ARE PROVIDED IN REALTIME.
AND GIVE YOU THE BEST PICTURE
OF WHAT OUR OPERATIONS ARE.
LIGHTRAIL AND FOR THAT MATTER,
SOUNDER COMMUTER RAIL BEGIN ON
MONDAY MAY BE YOUR BEST WAY TO
GET AROUND SINCE WE ARE NOT
UTILIZING THE ROADWAYS.
AND WE DO RUN TRAINS ALL NIGHT
IN THE CASE OF LIGHTRAIL TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE TRACKS ARE
CLEAR AND THE POWER TRACTION --
OPTIONS FROM THE OVERHEAD WIRES
ARE CLEAR.
WE PERFORMED VERY WELL TWO
YEARS AGO AS WE HAVE IN OTHER
SNOW EVENTS.
WHAT WE DO ASK THE LIGHTRAIL
RIDERS ESPECIALLY USING
STATIONS THAT ARE EXPOSED TO
THE ELEMENTS, IS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT WE ARE RUNNING LESS
FREQUENTLY THAN WE DO BECAUSE
OF COVID.
SO LIGHTRAIL WILL BE EVERY 12
MINUTES DURING PEAK HOURS.
EVERY 15 MINUTES FOR THE REST
OF THE DAY.
AND ON WEEKENDS.
AND EXCEPT -- AT THE VERY EARLY
HOURS BEFORE 6:00 A.M.
OR AFTER 10:30, WE WILL RUN
EVERY HALF HOUR.
YOU COULD BE ON AN EXPOSED
PLATFORM WAITING FOR A TRAIN
FOR A WHILE.
PLEASE BUNDLE UP AND STAY WARM
AND WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR BEST
TO CLEAR THE PLATFORMS OF SNOW.
BUT WITH A SNOW EVENT OF THIS
SIZE, THAT MAY TAKE US SOME
TIME BUT THE TRAINS WILL RUN.
SO WE JUST NEED THE ASK YOU TO
BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL.
SOUNDER COMMUTER RAIL DOES NOT
RUN ON WEEKENDS BUT WE DO
EXPECT IT TO BE ON SCHEDULE ON
MONDAY MORNING.
HERE AGAIN, LESS FREQUENTLY
THAN PRE-COVID.
PLEASE GO TO SOUNDTRANSIT.ORG
AND CHECK THE TIMETABLE AND GET
THE RIDER ALERTS AND YOU WILL
KNOW WHAT SERVICES ARE
AVAILABLE.
OUR BUSES WILL PERFORM JUST IN
THE SAME MANNER AS KING COUNTY
METRO'S AND FOR THAT MATTER,
PIERCE TRANSIT.
AND COMMUNITY TRANSIT.
WHERE THE ROADS ARE CLEAR, WE
WILL RUN THE REGULAR TIME
INCREMENTS, MAYBE SPOTTY AS WE
DEAL WITH ROAD CONDITIONS.
BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT WE WILL BE
TURNING OUT THE MAXIMUM AT OF
SERVICE THE CONDITIONS WILL
ALLOW ON THE ROADWAYS.
LASTLY JUST ECHOING EVERYONE
ELSE, PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK AND
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT SNOW THAT
CHANGES THE DANGERS THAT COVID-
19 PRESENTS.
SO WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO
SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND WEAR
THEIR MASKS AND STAY SAFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU PETER, NEXT WE
WILL GO TO DAVE McCORMICK.
>> HELLO.
ROUND ONE, THE FIRST WHITE
LITTLE SNOWSTORM IS THROUGH AND
THANKS TO OUR CREWS FOR GOING
OUT AND WORKING CONTINUOUSLY
AND THANK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CALLED IN AND SAID
THANK YOU TO OUR CREWS.
IN THEIR WORK.
MUCH HYPE YESTERDAY, WE'RE
GOING TO BE OUT TONIGHT IN FULL
FORCE.
LIKE WE TYPICALLY WILL DO
DURING THE SNOWSTORM IN
SEATTLE, OUR EXPRESS LANES WILL
BE OPEN CONTINUOUSLY OVER THE
WEEKEND.
WE'LL SWITCH LATE THIS EVENING
TO SOUTHBOUND OPERATION FOR THE
WEEKEND.
IF YOU CAN, JUST LIKE EVERYONE
ELSE HAS SAID, PLEASE STAY HOME
IF YOU CAN.
ENJOY THE WEATHER.
ENJOY THE TIME WITH YOUR
FAMILY.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
THE TRAFFIC VOLUMES TODAY HAVE
BEEN LIGHT.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOUR
COOPERATION AND YOUR
FLEXIBILITY IN STAYING HOME.
IF YOU DO NEED TO GO OUT,
PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB PACKAGE
ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING A
LONGER DISTANCE.
EVEN IF IT'S NOT SNOWING HERE,
WE HAVE A MAJOR WINTER EVENT
GOING ON ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE
STATE.
SO IF YOUR TRIP, ESPECIALLY
EXTENDS BEYOND SEATTLE, CHECK
OUR WEB PAGE.
CHECK CONDITIONS.
CHECK OUT YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE
YOU TRAVEL.
AND MAKE SURE YOU TAKE IT SLOW
WHEN YOU GO.
PLEASE ALSO RESPECT AND GIVE
DISTANCE TO OUR EMERGENCY
VEHICLES AND HOPE YOU HAVE A
FANTASTIC WEEKEND.
THANK YOU.
>> AND FINALLY WE WILL BE
HEARING FROM DIRECTOR HELEN
HOWELL, SEATTLE HSD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
THE CITY IS OPERATING THREE
SEVERE WEATHER SHELTERS THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING.
FEBRUARY 15th.
THE SHELTERS CAN ACCOMMODATE
164 GUESTS, LAST NIGHT 90 OF
THE 164 BEDS WERE OCCUPIED.
ON TUESDAY, THE CITY OPENED
FISHER PAVILION AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER WHERE THE CAPACITY OF
78.
AND YESTERDAY, HSD IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT OPENED GARFIELD
COMMUNITY CENTER WHICH HAS A
CAPACITY FOR 41 PEOPLE.
AND BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY
CENTER WHICH HAS A CAPACITY FOR
45 PEOPLE.
ALL OF THESE SHELTERS ARE 24
HOURS AND OVERNIGHT GUESTS MAY
REMAIN IN THE SHELTERS DURING
THE DAY.
OPERATIONS LUNCH IS PROVIDING
THREE MEALS A DAY AT THESE
LOCATIONS AND PETS AND SERVICE
ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED AT THE
COMMUNITY CENTER LOCATIONS.
LAST NIGHT, AT FISHER PAVILION,
WE HAD 74 PEOPLE WHO UTILIZED
THE SHELTER.
AND EIGHT INDIVIDUALS STAYED AT
THE GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER
AND ANOTHER EIGHT AT BITTER
LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER.
ALL THE SHELTERS ARE OPERATING
IN ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC
HEALTH, COVID-19 PROTOCOLS,
INCLUDING PHYSICAL DISTANCING,
MASKS, AND SCREENING FOR
SYMPTOMS.
SHOWER TRAILERS ARE LOCATED AT
FISHER PAVILION AND DAILY
CLEANING OF SHELTERS ALSO
PROVIDED.
A NEW PERMANENT SHELTER IS ALSO
OPENING AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH ON FIRST HILL AT 8:00
P.M.
THIS EVENING.
IT'S A WOMEN'S ONLY SHELTER
OPERATED BY WHEEL.
IT CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 60
CLIENTS.
INITIALLY IT WILL BE AN
OVERNIGHT ONLY SHELTER FROM
8:00 P.M.
TO 8:00 A.M.
BUT WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME A
24/7 ENHANCED SHELTER.
THIS SPACE INCLUDES SHOWERS, A
DINING AREA, NURSES' STATION
AND CASE MANAGERS' OFFICE AND
STORAGE.
I WANT TO THANK THE PROVIDERS
HELPING SET UP OUR SEVERE
WEATHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
THE SALVATION ARMY, LEHI, AND
COMPASS HOUSING.
BUT ALSO I WANT TO THANK ALL
OUR PROVIDER PARTNERS
THROUGHOUT THE SHELTER SYSTEM
WHO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES
EACH NIGHT TO OVER 2,000 OF OUR
NEIGHBORS EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
THE HOPE TEAM, STAFF IN
COORDINATION WITH SEATTLE PARKS
DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH ONE ARE
PROVIDING EVENING WELFARE
VISITS TO PEOPLE LIVING
UNSHELTERED IN ENCAMPMENTS.
SEATTLE PARKS IS LENDING
PASSENGER BANDS TO THE HOPE
TEAM TO HELP WITH
TRANSPORTATION.
HOWEVER, TRANSPORTATION WILL BE
LIMITED DUE TO COVID-19
PROTOCOLS.
SINCE WEDNESDAY, THE HOPE TEAM
HAS HAD 151 CONVERSATIONS WITH
INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THE TEMPORARY
SHELTERS PROVIDED 124
INDIVIDUALS WITH WINTER
SUPPLIES SUCH AS HATS, GLOVES,
HAND WARMERS, AND PROVIDED
BASIC NEEDS SUPPLIES, WATER,
SNACKS, TO 84 INDIVIDUALS.
THE AREAS VISITED INCLUDE SODO.
GEORGETOWN, BALLARD, LAKE CITY,
DOWNTOWN, CAPITAL HILL, AND THE
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
FOOD BANKS.
NO KNOWN IMPACTS TO FOOD BANK
OR MEAL PROGRAMS AT THIS TIME.
AND IN TERMS OF OUR AGING AND
DISABILITY SERVICES, THERE HAVE
BEEN NO IMPACTS TO OUR CASE
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
FINALLY, ADS DOES COORDINATE
WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE COVID-
19 VACCINE EFFORTS.
AND THE LATEST INFORMATION WE
HAVE IS THAT THE AUBURN DRIVE-
IN COVID VACCINE CLINIC
SUSPENDED OPERATIONS.
HOWEVER, TESTING IS STILL
AVAILABLE ON SITE.
PUBLIC HEALTH IS DIRECTING
PEOPLE WITH AUBURN DRIVE-IN
APPOINTMENTS TO THE KENT
LOCATION.
PLEASE CONTACT SEATTLE KING
COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FOR MORE
INFORMATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DIRECTOR HOWELL
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR
SPEAKERS TODAY.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE Q&A SESSION
HERE TODAY I WANT TO MAKE TWO
QUICK NOTES AT THE TOP.
ONE, ONCE AGAIN A REMINDER IF
YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU HAVE
NOT RSVP'D.
PLEASE MAKE A NOTE IN THE CHAT.
SECOND, PLEASE, FOR THE RESPECT
AND TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS
JOINED US HERE FROM A
TRANSPORTATION AGENCY, TO
RESPOND TO THE WEATHER, PLEASE
KEEP QUESTIONS WEATHER AND
WEATHER RESPONSE RELATED TODAY.
WE'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW.
WITH THAT OUR FIRST QUESTION
FROM TRACY RECORD BY SEATTLE
BLOG.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU, QUESTION FOR SAM.
IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT IF
THIS DOES TURN INTO A BIG
SNOWSTORM AS EXPECTED, THAT THE
LOW BRIDGE RESTRICTIONS WILL BE
LIFTED SO THAT IF PEOPLE REALLY
HAVE TO GO OUT AND USE A
BRIDGE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE
DRIVE AN EXTRA SEVERAL MILES TO
GET TO ONE OF THE DETOUR
ROUTES?
>> THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION,
TRACY.
WE HAVE PHOTOENFORCEMENT
RESTRICTING ACCESS ON THE LOW
BRIDGE TO TRANSIT AND EMERGENCY
VEHICLES AND FREIGHT.
THOSE REMAIN OUR PRIORITIES
DURING THE SNOW EVENT AS WELL.
SO THERE WON'T BE ANY CHANGE TO
PHOTO ENFORCEMENT POLICIES
DURING THE PERIOD OF SNOW.
THE OTHER ROUTES FEEDING TO THE
1st AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE AND
THE SOUTH PARK BRIDGE ARE PART
OF OUR SNOW NETWORK.
WE'RE WORKING HARD TO KEEP
THOSE CLEAR AS WELL.
AND SO THEY SHOULDN'T BE A
PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS
THOSE.
IF THEY NEED TO.
BUT AGAIN, WE WANT PEOPLE TO
TAKE CARE AND TO ONLY LEAVE IF
THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.
>> THANK YOU SAM.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM ESSEX PORTER, KIRO 7. THE
FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> YES, COULD I GET -- MR.
ZIMBABWE TO EXPAND ON THE CITY
AT LARGE?
JUST HOW MUCH IN TERMS OF
RESOURCES ARE YOU THROWING AT
THE STORM?
AND ALSO, A QUESTION AND I'M
NOT SURE WHO MIGHT BE THERE TO
ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT KEEPING
THE POWER ON.
WHAT ABOUT THE RESOURCES BEING
DEPLOYED TO BE SURE THAT
ELECTRICAL POWER STAYS ON SINCE
IT'S SO COLD?
>> SURE, I'LL TAKE THE FIRST
PART.
THE -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A
FULL DEPLOYMENT OF OUR
EQUIPMENT READY TO GO.
WE'VE BEEN ON 12 HOUR SHIFTS
FOR OUR WORK FORCE SINCE
YESTERDAY MORNING.
AND HAVE BEEN WORKING OVERNIGHT
AND DURING THE DAY BEFORE THAT
TO START PRETREATMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE TREMENDOUS
PARTNERSHIP WITHIN THE CITY TO
MAKE SURE OUR EQUIPMENT STAYS
UP AND RUNNING.
THE VEHICLE SHOP TO THE CITY IS
TIRELESS AND IF ANY PIECES OF
EQUIPMENT GO DOWN WE'RE WORKING
TO GET THEM BACK UP.
WE'RE PREPARED AS WE CAN BE FOR
THIS AND WE'LL HAVE ALL
EQUIPMENT READY TO GO.
>> AND HI, THIS IS DEBORA SMITH
AND I'M THE CEO GENERAL MANAGER
OF SEATTLE CITY LIGHT AND I CAN
SAY THE SAME THING FOR US.
WE HAVE CREWS ON STANDBY READY
TO ROLL.
WE'LL ASSESS AS THE DAY GOES ON
TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE JUST
KEEP FOLKS ON OR WHETHER WE
CALL BACK BUT WE'VE GONE TO
INCIDENT COMMAND STRUCTURE AND
WE'RE READY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
THANKS FOR MAKING AN
APPEARANCE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME
FROM ERICA BARNETT, PUBLICOLA.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANKS.
QUICK -- YES/NO QUESTION AND
THEN A FOLLOW-UP.
ARE ANY OF THE NEW SHELTER
OPTIONS OPEN TO FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN OR IS IT JUST SINGLE
INDIVIDUALS?
AND WHY ARE THERE NUMBERS AT
GARFIELD AND BITTER LAKE SO
LOW?
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE IT'S A QUESTION FOR
DIRECTOR HOWELL ABOUT WHAT KIND
OF OUTREACH IS BEING DONE TO
LET PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS KNOW THE OPTIONS
ARE AVAILABLE?
>> HELLO.
NONE OF THE SHELTER OPTIONS
THAT I MENTIONED ARE -- TAKE
FAMILIES.
HOWEVER, THE KING COUNTY FAMILY
SHELTER INTAKE LINE IS
AVAILABLE AND MAKING SPACE FOR
FAMILIES 24/7.
THE INTAKE LINE CAN BE REACHED
BY CALLING AREA CODE (206)245-
1026.
AGAIN THAT'S (206)245-1026.
I'M SORRY, THERE WAS A FOLLOW-
UP?
ANOTHER QUESTION?
FAMILIES -- OH.
AND THE LOW NUMBERS AT BITTER
LAKE AND GARFIELD.
I KNOW THE HOPE TEAM IS DOING
THE OUTREACH THAT I LISTED IN
COVERING A FAIR AMOUNT OF
GROUND.
SOTO.
GEORGETOWN, DOWNTOWN, CAPITAL
HILL AND THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT AND BALLARD.
SO WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN.
AND HOPING THAT PEOPLE TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SHELTER
THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
QUESTION.
AND THANK YOU DIRECTOR HOWELL.
NOT SEEING ANY ADDITIONAL
QUESTIONS.
BEING PUT INTO THE CHAT HERE.
I WILL WAIT FOR A FEW SECONDS
TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO
JUMP IN AT THE LAST-MINUTE.
BEFORE WE CALL THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE A LITTLE BIT EARLY.
HERE WE GO.
JACK RUSSILLO. I
WILL OPEN YOUR -- YOUR LINE
HERE AS SOON AS I FIND YOU.
THERE YOU GO.
>> OH.
HELLO?
THANK YOU.
YEAH.
I'M REPORTER FROM THE SOUTH
SEATTLE EMERALD.
AND I AM JUST CURIOUS FOR IN
úTERMS OF STREET PLOWING.
WILL THERE BE A MAP OR SOME
SORT OF GUIDE FOR WHICH STREETS
WILL BE PLOWED?
WILL THAT BE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT OR IS
THAT KIND OF ON THE GO?
>> THAT IS PUBLISHED NOW ON OUR
SNOW PREPAREDNESS WEBSITE, OUR
WINTER WEATHER WEBSITE.
AND THERE IS -- GIS MAP THAT
PEOPLE CAN SEE PROGRESS AND
RELATIVE CONDITIONS.
THAT'S -- THAT'S UPDATED IN
QUASI REALTIME.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR
ZIMBABWE.
>> ALSO SAY WHILE I HAVE GOT
THE FLOOR JUST FOR A SECOND.
WE ARE -- AND IT'S MAYBE OF
INTEREST TO THE SOUTH SEATTLE
EMERALD, WE ARE DELAYING THE
START OF THE LAKE WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD CLOSURES AND
ANTICIPATED TO BE STARTING ON
MONDAY.
FOR -- TO ENABLE SNOW CLEARANCE
THERE AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY
ANNOUNCED AS BEING SOMETHING
THAT WOULD START TOMORROW.
THAT WILL START -- THE PLAN IS
THAT FOR THAT TO START ON
MONDAY.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> NOT SEEING ANY MORE
QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO --
MAYOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY
SOME CLOSING WORDS BEFORE WE
ADJOURN?
>> YEAH.
YES.
THANK YOU ANTHONY.
FIRST I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WHO ARE
HERE -- [ NO AUDIO ]
ALSO THEIR TEAMS WHO HAVE WILL
BEBEEN WORKING AROUND THE
CLOCK AND WE KNOW FROM THE
PREVIOUS SNOW EVENTS THAT IT'S
LONG GRUELING DAYS SO I WANT TO
THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK
THEY'RE DOING AND I KNOW THEY
WILL BE DOING.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
HEEDING THE ADVICE, PLEASE,
STAY HOME IF YOU CAN STAY HOME.
DON'T BE DRIVING BECAUSE THE
ROADS WILL BE TREACHEROUS.
THE PLOWED ROADS WILL BE -- YOU
STILL HAVE TO GET ACCESS TO
THOSE.
AND AGAIN, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
GET TO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO GETTING TO THE PLOWED ROADS
CAN SOMETIMES BE THE CHALLENGE.
YOU KNOW, IF THE WEATHER
FORECAST IS ACCURATE, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE LOOKING AT A SNOW-NAMI
LIKE WE HAVEN'T HAD FOR A
WHILE.
A VERY GREAT ACCUMULATION IN A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
IF YOU KNOW ZOO NEIGHBORS THAT
NEED HELP, PLEASE MAKE SURE
THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AND
KNOW HOW TO GET HELP.
THERE'S CONTACT ON THE WEBSITE
AND YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT THE
HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION AND
PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE LIKES
TO GET THEM TO ONE OF THE
SHELTERS THAT IS OPEN.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
ALL THE EFFORTS THEY'VE BEEN
MAKING ON COVID-19.
WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS GOING IN
THE RANGE DIRECTION BUT AS
PETER SAID, THERE'S NOTHING
ABOUT SNOW THAT CHANGES THE
REALITY OF THIS VIRUS.
DO PLEASE CONTINUE TO WEAR YOUR
MASK AND KEEP YOUR PHYSICAL
DISTANCE AND EVERYBODY TRY TO
STAY SAFE AND STAY WARM.
IF YOU DO ENJOY THE SNOW, IF
YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
ENJOY IT AND GET OUTSIDE AND
HOPEFULLY IT WON'T STAY AROUND
TOO LONG.
BUT TEMPERATURES SHOW THAT IT
WILL STAY AROUND FOR A WHILE.
SO EVERYONE TAKE CARE.
AND HAVE A SAFE WEEKEND.
>> THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK
YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS
TODAY.
THAT NOW CONCLUDES TODAY'S
PRESS CONFERENCE.