Winter Storm Response
Updated February 28, 2025
What's the Situation?
Winter storms bring snow, ice, and cold temperatures. This makes traveling difficult for buses, emergency vehicles, and you. Winter weather also puts people at risk who are experiencing health problems and homelessness. Plus, cold temperatures can cause pipes to freeze and burst. High winds can cause power outages.
How to Stay Safe
- Clear snow and ice from sidewalks, walkways, and driveways with a shovel or de-icer. Help everyone stay safe.
- Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Push the snow instead of lifting it when possible.
- Prevent flooding by using a shovel to safely clear snow and ice from your neighborhood storm drains.
- Never use charcoal grills or portable gas camp stoves indoors. The fumes are deadly.
- If you must drive, make sure your car is ready. Carry chains or other traction devices and be prepared to put them on. Make sure windows are clear and the snow is removed from the entire car.
- Stock up on non-perishable groceries and supplies. It may take time for stores to re-stock.
- Dress in layers to stay warm and keep clothing dry. Wear a hat to prevent loss of body heat.
- Never touch, approach or come into contact with anything touching a downed power line. Stay at least 35 feet (11 meters) away from the lines and anything surrounding them. Consider all wires energized and dangerous. Even de-engergized lines may become energized at any time. Always assume the wire is live, even if severed.
What We Do During a Storm
- Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) works around the clock to clear 1,200 miles of critical streets for buses and emergency services. See SDOT's winter weather response page that includes travel tips and maps for snow routes, traffic cameras, and more.
- Seattle City Light crews fix and restore power outages and respond to downed wires.
- Seattle Public Utilities offers helpful tips for protecting pipes from freezing, or what to do if they burst and how to check your home for hazardous waste.
- When high winds are forecast, crews are ready to remove fallen trees from the road and power lines, and to repair traffic signs and signals.
- Seattle Fire Department works on injury prevention with safety messaging and by responding to fires, water main breaks, and making equipment ready to respond to emergencies during winter conditions.
- Seattle Parks and Recreation clears critical park paths, sidewalks, and curb ramps and opens golf courses and athletic fields to sledding and play if there is enough snow.
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Driving and Commuting
Home and Pet Safety
Outages and Utilities
Shelter and Food
Call 2-1-1 in King County to learn about shelter and food resources. Or, call Washington State's 24-hour crisis line: 866-427-4747.
Winter Storm Tweets
Top accounts to follow during a winter storm include: @seattleDOT, @SeattleFire, @wsdot, @SEACityLight, @SeattleSPU.
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