>>> GOOD MORNING, GUYS.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WEATHER SHIFTED AGAIN.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO NOT GET
SNOW UNTIL LATER TODAY, SO
GIVEN THE CONDITIONS, THE
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE REGION,
WE AGAIN CONVENED A MEETING OF
MEMBERS OF MY CABINET PLUS OUR
KEY PARTNERS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE
LEADERS OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO
ARE HERE AND THE OTHERS WHO
AREN'T HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE
DOING THE WORK AND THE CITY
EMPLOYEES WHO REALLY HAVE BEEN
WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO
KEEP THE CITY SAFE AND WORKING
TOGETHER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR KEY
PARTNERS, THE WASHINGTON STATE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,
SOUND TRANSIT, METRO, SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO HAVE
PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF
CALLS WITH US AT ALL HOURS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING
OUR CITY AND REGION AS SAFE AS
WE CAN.
I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE FOR THEIR PATIENCE.
WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IN THE WEATHER BUT
THE LATEST FORECAST HAS
CONTINUING COLD AND FREEZE AT
LEAST THROUGH TOMORROW, WITH
ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE VERY HEAVY
WET SNOW TONIGHT.
IT COULD BE NORTH OF SEATTLE.
IT COULD BE CENTERED ON
SEATTLE.
IT COULD MISS SEATTLE.
SO WE'RE PREPARING FOR ALL
THOSE SCENARIOS.
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THE SNOW
COMES, IT WILL BE COLD AND IT
WILL BE FREEZING, AND WE ARE
ANTICIPATING ALSO TO GET A
NUMBER OF HIGH WINDS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE A COUPLE
OF THINGS SAFETY-WISE THAT WE
HAVEN'T MENTIONED AS MUCH
BEFORE BUT THAT ARE REALLY
IMPORTANT.
WITH THE WINDS AND THE HEAVY
SNOWS, AS DEBORAH WILL TALK TO
YOU ABOUT CITY LIGHT IN A
MINUTE, THERE'S A CHANCE OF
DOWNED POWER LINES.
IF A POWER LINE GOES DOWN,
PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND
REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY.
THE CHARGED POWER LINES CAN BE
VERY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE AND TO
PROPERTIES.
AND SO CALL 911 IF YOU SEE A
DOWNED POWER LINE AND STAY AT
LEAST 30 FEET AWAY.
IF YOU HAVE -- IF YOU HAVEN'T
DONE IT YET, GET YOUR
BATTERIES, GET YOUR
FLASHLIGHTS, GET THOSE BLANKETS
READY, BECAUSE IF WE DO HAVE
HEAVY SNOWS AND WINDS, THERE'S
A CHANCE WE COULD HAVE POWER
OUTAGES IN SEATTLE MORNINGS AND
GIVEN THESE CONDITIONS, IT'S
UNCLEAR IF THAT HAPPENS HOW
LOG IT WILL TAKE TO RESTORE.
SO BE PREPARED JUST IN CASE.
STAY INFORMED.
HAVE A WAY TO KNOW WHAT THE
WEATHER FORECASTS ARE AND
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR
REGION.
IF POWER GOES OUT WE'LL TELL
YOU WAYS THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT.
MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR AREA
SAFE AND YOUR NEIGHBORS SAFE.
SO SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALK.
IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT NOW
THAT IT'S DROPPED DOWN AND IS
FROZEN AGAIN.
SIDEWALKS CAN BE VERY
TREACHEROUS.
WE'VE HAD SOME SLIP-AND-FALLS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP
THOSE SIDEWALKS CLEAR.
SO IF YOU ARE A PROPERTY OWNER
YOU HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO
KEEP THAT SIDEWALK CLEAR.
IT'S NOT ONLY THE LANDFALL
THING TO DO, IT REALLY IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO.
PLEASE DON'T DRIVE UNLESS YOU
ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.
LAST NIGHT ALONE WE HAD AN
ACCIDENT ON THE 520 BRIDGE.
OVER 30 VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED.
THEY HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC.
BELLEVUE FIRE DEPARTMENT
COULDN'T GET THERE.
SEATTLE FIRE DEPARTMENT D. THEY
HAD TO TURN CARS AROUND TO GO
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
BUT WE'RE SEEING A NUMBER OF
COLLISIONS BECAUSE THE
CONDITIONS HAVE DETERIORATED.
CHECK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN PEOPLE OUT
AND ABOUT, PARTICULARLY IF THEY
ARE SENIORS OR WHO IF THEY ARE
DISABLED OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
WELL, CHECK IN ON THEM, JUST
SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.
AGAIN, GET PREPARED, STAY
INFORMED, AND MAKE SURE YOU
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO IN THE
CITY AND HOW TO GET HELP.
LAST, I REALLY WANT TO URGE
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO
IS LIVING OUTSIDE, WE HAVE A
RANGE OF SHELTER OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE FOR THEM.
JASON JOHNSON WILL BE
ADDRESSING.
THAT WE ARE NAVIGATION TEAMWORK
FROM 7:00 A.M.
UNTIL MIDNIGHT YESTERDAY
TOGETHER WITH ALL OUR OUTREACH
WORKERS TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE
INSIDE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON
THAT TODAY.
WE WILL BE OPENING A SHELTER AT
THE BITTER LAKE COMMUNITY
CENTER SO WE CAN ADD CAPACITY,
BECAUSE ALL THE FORECASTS SHOW
THAT THERE WILL BE HEAVIER
STORMS THERE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER WE
NEED ADDIIONAL CAPACITY IN THE
DOWNTOWN CORE OR OTHER PLACES.
BUT REALLY IMPORTANT THAT IF
YOU SEE SOMETHING OUTSIDE AND
YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET THEM
INSIDE, DIAL 211.
WE CAN GET YOU A LIST OF THE
SHELTERS THAT ARE OPEN, AND WE
CAN TRANSPORT PEOPLE AS WELL.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY
TO KEEP EVERYBODY AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE.
ALL OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND
OUR PARTNERS ARE HERE TRYING TO
MAKE PEOPLE AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE.
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPENED
TWO HOURS LATE TODAY.
WE HAVE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION THAT WAS LOOKING
AT THE SCHOOLS THAT HAD GREATER
HAZARDS UNTIL MIDNIGHT LAST
NIGHT, HELPING TO MAKE
CONDITIONS SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO
GO TO SCHOOL TODAY.
THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT.
IT'S NOT JUST ALL THE PEOPLE
BEHIND ME AND ALL THE CITY
EMPLOYEES WORKING.
IT REALLY IS EVERYBODY WHO IS
LIVING AND WORKING IN THE CITY,
LOOKING OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER AND
DOING THE SMART THING.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION AND REALLY WANT TO
THANK THE MEDIA FOR REALLY
GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT
THERE.
WE HAVE SEEN THAT PEOPLE ARE
RESPONDING TO THE PRESS
REPORTS, AND HAVE SEEN A LOT OF
COOPERATION.
SO WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
AND RODNEY MAXIE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS RODNEY MAXIE, AND
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS FOR SDOT.
LAST NIGHT OUR NIGHT SHIFT HAD
ABOUT 70 PEOPLE WORKING.
WE TREATED ALL OF OUR MAIN
ARTERIALS.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TREATED
APPROXIMATELY 20 APPROACHES TO
NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS.
THAT COORDINATION IS WORKING
VERY WELL.
THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US
AND KING COUNTY METRO IS
WORKING REALLY WELL SO THAT WE
CAN KEEP THE TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEMS UP AND RUNNING.
WE HAVE DIVIDED OUR OPERATIONS
INTO MULTIMODAL TEAMS, SO WE
HAVE TEAMS THAT ARE
SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO
KEEPING TRANSIT AND ROAD AND
FREIGHT MOVING FORWARD.
WE HAVE TEAMS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO ASSIST WITH THE
BIKE PROGRAMS AND THE
PEDESTRIAN PROGRAMS AND TRAVEL
AND BE ABLE TO HELP THE
COMMUNITY WHERE WE SEE THERE'S
A NEED TO SURGE.
WE KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR
FORECAST, AS THE MAYOR SAID
THAT THE SNOW PROBABLY WILL HIT
HEAVIER IN THE NORTH END.
SO WE WILL BE SHIFTING SOME OF
OUR PLOWS FROM CENTRAL AND FROM
THE SOUTH END TO THE NORTH.
HOWEVER, WE WILL BE MAINTAINING
PLOWS AT THE HIGH ELEVATIONS IN
WEST SEATTLE AND HIGH POINT AND
BEACON, AND WE'VE RECEIVED
ASSISTANCE FROM THE SEATTLE
PARKS DEPARTMENT AND SEATTLE
PUBLIC UTILITIES TO PUT SOME
ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AT THESE
HIGHER ELEVATION POINTS.
WE ALSO PUT A CONTRACTOR ON
CALL THROUGHOUT THIS STORM.
WE HAVE NOT USED THE CONTRACTOR
AT THIS POINT.
BUT THE CONDITIONS CHANGE AND
SHOULD THE WEATHER REPORT PAN
OUT, WE PROBABLY WILL BE
ACTIVATING THE CONTRACTOR IN
THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
PATIENCE.
PLEASE BE SAFE.
PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR
NEIGHBORS.
AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE STICKS
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M TERRY WHITE, KING COUNTY
METRO'S DEPUTY MANAGER.
ON BEHALF OF TRANSIT I WANT TO
THANK ALL THE RIDERS WHO HAVE
BEEN BEING PATIENT WITH US AS
WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS
INCLEMENT SEASON.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE OUR FAR NORTH
AND EAST REGIONS ON SNOW ROUTE.
I'M GOING TO WANT TO FOCUS ON
MAKING SURE YOU KNOW TO GO TO
METRO WINTER.COM AS CHANGES
CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
GIVEN THE WEATHER PREDICTIONS,
WE ARE LOOKING AT BY P M
COMMUTE PUTTING ALL ROUTES ON
SNOW ROUTES.
THAT'S ALL ROUTES ON SNOW ROUTE
FOR THE P M COMMUTE.
WITH THAT WE WILL THEN BE
PULLING ADDITIONAL 60-FOOTERS
OFF THE ROAD.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, OUR
ARTICULATORS DON'T DO QUITE AS
WELL IN SNOW AND ICE, AND
THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE
REMAINDER OF THE FLEET.
WHAT WILL YOU WANT TO DO IS GO
TO METROWINTER.COM TO BE SURE
YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR ROUTE STATUS
IS.
ROUTES WILL BE RUNNING.
IT WILL BE GOOD FOR YOU TO PULL
UP ANY OF THE VARIOUS TRIP
PLANNER APPS.
WE ALSO HAVE A TEXT SYSTEM THAT
YOU CAN USE.
THAT IS 62550.
AND YOU CAN GET REAL-TILE
INFORMATION ON WHEN YOUR BUSES
ARE COMING THROUGH.
THAT WILL HELP, BECAUSE WHAT WE
DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IS TO BE
STANDING AROUND IN THE COLD
UNKNOWINGLY WAITING FOR WHEN
THE BUS MAY OR MAY NOT COME.
SO WE WANT YOU TO DO THOSE
THINGS.
ANOTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT
IS, AS THE SNOW BEGINS TO FALL,
SNOW AND ICE, IF YOU CAN, STAND
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL.
WE HAVE STOPS THAT ARE PROBABLY
HALFWAY THROUGH A HILL, BUT AS
YOU KNOW, BUSES, CARS, WE NEED
MOMENTUM JUST TO BE SAFE STAND
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND
CATCH IT THERE.
WE'LL ENSURE THAT WE DO OUR
BEST TO CONTINUE TO GET YOU
HOME.
OUR ENTIRE FLEET, ALL OUR
FOLKS, WE'RE READY FOR THIS.
WE'RE READY TO WORK.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR
JURISDICTIONAL PARTNERS HERE,
AND OUR CHARGE, WE WANT TO
OPERATE SAFELY FOR YOU, AND WE
WANT YOU ALL TO BE SAFE AS
WELL.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER
TO BRIAN NIELSEN FROM WSDOT.
>> THANK YOU, TERRY.
THANK YOU MAYOR DURKAN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH
THE PUBLIC AND WITH OUR MEDIA
PARTNERS HERE.
MY NAME IS BRIAN NIELSEN.
I'M THE DEPUTY REGIONAL
ADMINISTRATOR FOR WSDOT'S
NORTHWEST REGION.
AS WITH OUR PARTNERS SAFETY IS
OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUR CREWS TO
THE JOB, ON THE JOB, AND HOME
AGAIN SAFE AT NIGHT, AND TO
KEEP THE TRAVELING PUBLIC SAFE
AS WELL.
WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR PARTNERS
HERE AT THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE COUNTY TO DO OUR BEST AS WE
CAN TO KEEP THE ROADWAYS CLEAR
AND KEEP THE PUBLIC MOVING.
WE HAVE ABOUT 50 PLOWS IN THE
SEATTLE AREA THAT ARE WORKING
24 HOURS A DAY AT THIS TIME AND
BACKUP CREWS AS WELL AS
OPERATORS GET TIRED AND NEED A
BREAK.
SO WE'RE PLOWING, APPLYING ANTI-
ICE AND DE-ICER AROUND THE
REGION TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.
OUR MOST CHALLENGING AREAS HAVE
BEEN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS AND
ROADWAYS FURTHER AWAY FROM
PUGET SOUND.
SO ROUTES LIKE 405, 522, I-90
AND 520, THERE ARE LANES THAT
HAVE SNOW, COMPACT SNOW AND ICE
ON THEM.
SO IF YOU DO NEED TO TRAVEL,
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FORECAST IS
AND WHAT CONDITIONS ARE ON THE
ROUTES THAT YOU NEED TO GO OUT
ON.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE PODIUM
OVER TO DEBORAH SMITH WITH SCL.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M DEBORAH SMITH, GENERAL
MANAGER OF SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY
THANKING OUR INTERPRETER WHO I
UNDERSTAND RAN TWO MILES TO GET
HERE TODAY, SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE.
LIKE MY COLLEAGUES, I'M GOING
TO FOCUS ON SAFETY, YOURS,
OURS, AND THE COMMUNITY'S.
SO WHEN WE HAVE POWER OUTAGES,
OUR RESTORATION MANTRA IS MAKE
SAFE, COMMUNICATE, RESTORE.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO FOCUS
ON SAFETY FIRST.
SO THE MAYOR DID A GREAT JOB.
IF YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH A
DOWNED POWER LINE, PLEASE STAY
30 TO 35 FEET AWAY FROM THE
LINE AND IMMEDIATELY CALL 911.
IF BY CHANCE YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED
THAT DOWNED POWER LINE WHILE
YOU ARE IN YOUR VEHICLE, STILL
MAKE THE CALL BUT STAY WHERE
YOU ARE.
THAT'S THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT THING YOU CANO.
WE ARE SET UP POTENTIALLY IF
THINGS GO IN A SPECIFIC CERTAIN
WAY, WHERE WE COULD HAVE ISSUES
TOMORROW.
AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW OR
SHARE WITH YOU THAT OUR
RESTORATION PROTOCOL IS WHAT
CAN YOU EXPECT.
SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE
SERVED -- PERHAPS YOU ARE IN
REMOTE AREAS OF OUR SERVICE
TERRITORY.
PERHAPS YOU'RE AT THE END OF A
RADIAL FEED.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
WHEN WE HAVE OUTAGES, WE WILL
MOVE OUR SYSTEM IN.
SO WE WILL START RESTORING AS
MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO THAT'S GENERALLY THE ORDER
ONCE WE HAVE MADE SAFE.
SO PREPARE YOURSELF
PARTICULARLY IF YOU KNOW THAT
FROM HISTORY OR FROM FOLKLORE
THAT YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE
PERHAPS AN OUTAGE COULD EXTEND
FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
BLANKETS, BATTERIES,
FLASHLIGHTS, AND PROBABLY THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOUR DEVICES ARE
FULLY CHARGED.
OUR DEVICES TODAY PLAY A REALLY
IMPORTANT ROLE FOR US.
AND THEY WILL HELP YOU IF YOU
FIND YOURSELF WITHOUT POWER.
CHECK US OUT.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GOOGLE
SEATTLE CITY LIGHT OUTAGE MAP.
IT WILL POP UP AND TELL YOU HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCE
OUTAGES, HOW MANY EVENTS, AND
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND KNOW WHETHER
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS BEING
IMPACTED, OR IS IT JUST YOU.
SO THAT'S INFORMATION THAT'S
AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE, AND IT'S
ONLY AVAILABLE IF YOUR DEVICES
ARE CHARGED.
SO I THINK I'VE COVERED
EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY.
WE'RE GEARED UP, WE'RE
PREPARED, WE'RE READY.
THIS IS WHERE WE DO OUR BEST
WORK, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE
FOR NOTHING.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, STAY SAFE.
THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM SPU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JEFF FOWLER WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES.
THE WATER AND DRAINAGE AND
WASTE WATER OPERATIONS ARE
OPERATING NORMALLY, AND THEY
ARE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO
EMERGENCIES.
THE SOLID WASTE TRANSFER
STATIONS IN THE SOUTH AND NORTH
END ARE OPEN AND OPERATING.
THE SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
CONTRACTORS ARE ON A LIMITED
BASIS.
EXACTLY WHERE THEY CAN PICK UP
IS BASED ON THEIR SAFETY AND
THE PUBLIC'S SAFETY.
SO IF YOU'RE A TUESDAY
CUSTOMER, PLEASE HAVE YOUR
CARTS CURBSIDE.
IF THEY DON'T GET PICKED UP
TODAY, PLEASE PUT THEM OUT
AGAIN TOMORROW AND LEAVE THEM
OUT UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY.
IF THEY AREN'T PICKED UP BY THE
END OF THE DAY TOMORROW, WE
WILL PICK IT UP ON THE
FOLLOWING TUESDAY.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO
JASON JOHNSON WITH HSD.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JASON JOHNSON WITH THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
LAST NIGHT THERE WERE
APPROXIMATELY 350 INDIVIDUALS
SHELTERED AT SEATTLE CENTER'S
EXHIBITION HALL AS WELL AS
THROUGH EXPANDED HOURS AT CITY
HALL AND AT THE KING COUNTY
ADMIN BUILDING LOBBY.
WHILE CITY HALL SHELTERS AND
SEATTLE EXHIBITION HALL WERE AT
CAPACITY LAST NIGHT, NO ONE
WAS, NOR WILL BE TODAY, TURNED
AWAY.
THIS EMERGENCY SHELTER IS LOW
BARRIER.
ALL ARE WELCOME.
WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE
FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS
ADDITIONAL SHELTER RESOURCE.
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SURGE
SHELTER TO ABOUT 600 THROUGH
THE USE OF OUR CITY HALL CAMPUS
AS WELL AS COMMUNITY CENTERS.
WE WILL BE OPENING THE BITTER
LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER BEGINNING
TONIGHT.
THAT'S ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OF
UP TO 70 SHELTER BEDS.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR
ONGOING PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE
THAT ADDITIONAL CAPACITY
POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE WARMING CENTERS
AVAILABLE ALL DAY AT SEATTLE
CENTER ARMORY AND OTHER CITY
FACILITIES SUCH AS LIBRARIES.
WE ALSO HAVE OPENED BERTHA
KNIGHT LANDIS ROOM AS AN EARLY
MORNING WARMING CENTER.
THE NAVIGATION TEAM WAS
CONDUCTING OUTREACH YESTERDAY
FROM 7:00 A.M.
UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
OUTREACH WILL CONTINUE TODAY
AND BEYOND DURING THIS EVENT.
THE NAVIGATION TEAM HAS
TRANSPORTATION AND IS READY TO
NOT ONLY MAKE REFERRALS TO
SHELTER BUT CAN TRANSPORT
INDIVIDUALS TO THOSE SHELTERS.
AGAIN, WE ARE EXPANDING
CAPACITY.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVE
ANYONE WHO COMES AT THE SEATTLE
CENTER EXHIBITION HALL.
WE WILL BE OPENING AT BITTER
LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE WANTED TO OPEN THAT FACILITY
GIVEN THAT MOST OF THE WEATHER
IMPACTS SEATTLE'S NORTH END.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS HAROLD SCOGGINS,
SEATTLE FIRE CHIEF.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FIRST
RESPONDERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS
THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND
THE CLOCK TO SUPPORT THE
COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS ALL OF
OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS AND
COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS OUR
UNITS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY
RESPONDING TO A VARIETY OF
EMERGENCIES AND I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT A FEW.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED WE ADD
PRETTY LARGE VEHICLE COLLISION
ON 520 YESTERDAY EVENING THAT
INVOLVED APPROXIMATELY 30
VEHICLES.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT
PREPAREDNESS ON THAT FRONT
BECAUSE IF YOU GET STUCK IN A
COLLISION LIKE THAT, YOU NEED
TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED
FOR THAT.
MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLE IS
FUELED UP.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE PREPARED TO BE
SITTING ON THE HIGHWAY IN BELOW-
FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
BUT ALSO THE REMINDER IS, IF
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL,
PLEASE DON'T TRAVEL.
ALSO, IF YOU'RE NAVIGATING YOUR
WAY AROUND THE CITY AND YOU'RE
WALKING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
TOUGH RIGHT TOOLS AND
EQUIPMENT, SHOES, REFLECTIVE
CLOTHING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT
AS IT BECOMES DARKER OUT YOU
MAY BE HARDER TO SEE AS YOU'RE
TRANSITION AROUND THE
COMMUNITY.
THROUGHOUT THE LAST 24 HOURS
OUR UNITS HAVE RESPONDED TO
THREE STRUCTURE FIRES.
SO THERE'S SOME REMINDERS THAT
COME INTO PLAY THERE.
ELECT TRICOULD.
LET'S NOT OVERLOAD OUR
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.
LET'S NOT USE EXTENSION CORDS
IF WE'RE USING SPACE HEATERS OR
PORTABLE HEATERS.
PLEASE PLUG THEM DIRECTLY INTO
THE WALL AS OUR HOMES ARE BUILT
TO ABSORB SURGES.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING FLAMMABLE WITHIN THREE
FEET OF THOSE PORTABLE HEATERS.
CHECK YOUR CARBON MONOXIDE
DETECTORS SO IF SOMETHING DOES
GO SIDEWAYS YOUR SYSTEMS WILL
WORK TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
IF YOU SHOULD LOSE POWER IT'S A
REMINDER, MAKE SURE YOUR
EMERGENCY KITS ARE PREPARED.
DON'T USE GENERATORS OR
BARBECUE PITS INSIDE OF YOUR
HOME.
THOSE ARE UNSAFE SITUATIONS.
HAVE A FRIEND CHECK IN ON YOU.
YOU CHECK IN OR YOUR FRIENDS SO
EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO GO.
SO JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYONE,
LET'S BE SAFE OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS.
LET'S MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY
IS SAY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHIEF.
I WANT TO THANK THE OTHERS
HERE.
SEATTLE PD HAS ALSO BEEN OUT IN
EVERY COMMUNITY RESPONDING TO A
RANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAKE
PEOPLE SAY.
ALSO TALKING TO SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WE FORGET SOMETIMES
THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR CITY FARED
PRETTY WELL, THAT MANY OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND OUR SCHOOLS AND
IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE DON'T
LIVE IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND IT'S HARD ARE FOR THEM TO
GET TO THEIR PLACES OF WORK.
JUST BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE GOOD
HERE, THEY MAY NOT BE GOOD
WHERE THE WORKERS ARE LIVING.
I WANT TO THANK THE SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR
FOR CONTINUING TO WORK REALLY
CLOSELY WITH US, BECAUSE WE
KNOW, PARENTS THAT FIRST DAY IS
FUN WHEN THE KIDS STAY HOME
FROM SCHOOL.
THAT SECOND DAY IS A LITTLE
TENSE.
BY THE THIRD DAY, YOU'RE
CLIMBING THE WALLS.
SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE
CAN BUT THEY TOO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THEY KEEP THEIR TEACHERS
SAFE, THEIR KIDS SAFE, AND ARE
DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN.
WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS, WE'D BE HAPPY TO
TAKE THEM.
>> Reporter: I HAVE A QUESTION
MAYOR.
IT'S ABOUT THE 520 COLLISION.
SO WSDOT OR PERHAPS THE CHIEF
CAN HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.
30 VEHICLES, OF COURSE, WSDOT'S
GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
ROADS ARE SAFE.
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING MORE?
CAN YOU DO ANYTHING MORE TO
MAKE IT SO THAT KIND OF
COLLISION DOES NOT HAPPEN?
I MEAN, I REALIZE WE AS DRIVERS
ARE NOT THE BEST, BUT SURELY
YOU CAN'T PUT ALL THE BLAME ON
US.
SO IS THERE MORE THAT CAN BE
DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT
KIND OF THING WON'T HAPPEN?
>> I'LL LET RODNEY TALK TO YOU
ABOUT HOW WE'RE TREATING
SEATTLE ROADS AND THEN WSDOT.
BUT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I
WILL EMPHASIZE IT'S NOT A
MATTER OF DRIVER BLAME BUT IF
YOU ARE -- FIRST, IF YOU DON'T
HAVE TO DRIVE, DON'T.
BUT IF YOU ARE IN YOUR CAR IN
THIS KIND OF WEATHER YOU HAVE
GOT TO LEAVE MORE DISTANCE
BETWEEN YOU AND THE OTHER CARS.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO SLOW DOWN.
BECAUSE IF YOU HIT THE BRAKES,
WILL YOU NOT STOP LIKE YOU
THINK YOU'RE GOING TO STOP.
SO TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED.
RODNEY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT HOW THEY'RE TREATING
ROADS?
>> WE PRETREAT ALL THE ROADS AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE TRY TO GET THEM TREATED 24
HOURS BEFOREHAND.
AND SO DOES WSDOT.
I THINK THE THING TO REMEMBER
IS THAT PEOPLE IN THE NORTHWEST
ARE FAIRLY GOOD DRIVERS.
WHAT WE HAVE IN THE NORTHWEST
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE IN MANY
PLACES LIKE BUFFALO, NEW YORK,
WE HAVE HILLS THAT THEY CALL
MOUNTAINS ON THE EAST COAST.
HILLS ARE UNFORGIVING BECAUSE
THERE'S GRAVITY.
SO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU HAVE
-- AFTER EVERY ONE OF THESE
EVENTS YOU HAVE A FREEZE/THAW.
SO EVEN WHEN WE TREAT THE ROAD
YOU HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWLY BUCK
CAN STIFFLY BLACK ICE FORM.
AND YOU CANNOT STOP QUICKLY.
SO WHETHER YOU'RE -- ESPECIALLY
IF YOU'RE ON A BRIDGE OR
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE ON GRADE,
I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE KEY.
I HAVE SEEN WSDOT, THOUGH.
I'LL LET THEM SPEAK BUT THEIR
PLOWS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU RODNEY.
I WOULD ECHO THOSE COMMENTS.
WE ARE PRETREATING.
AS I MENTIONED WE HAVE 50 PLOWS
THAT HAVE BOTH PLOWS AND DE-
ICING MATERIALS ON BOARD.
BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH THAT WE
CAN HAVE SOMEBODY EVERYWHERE
ALL THE TIME.
SO WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO
CLEAR AREAS IF WE GET REPORTS
OF ICE WE DO TRY TO PRIORITIZE
THOSE AREAS THAT WE'RE
TREATING.
BUT AGAIN DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY,
EXTRA DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND
THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU.
LET'S TRY TO GET EVERYBODY HOME
SAFE.
>> THIS WAS 520 SO THIS WASN'T
LIKE A SIDE STREET OR
SOMETHING, SO THAT'S REALLY
PART OF THE REASON FOR THE
QUESTION.
>> SURE.
AS I MENTIONED, AS WE MOVE
FURTHER AWAY FROM PUGET SOUND,
520 IS ONE OF THOSE ROUTES THAT
WE'RE CHALLENGED W. IT'S COLD.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
COLDER TONIGHT.
SO OUR CREWS ARE WORKING 520
AND ALL THE MAJOR ROUTES, BUT
WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.
>> Reporter: I HAVE QUESTIONS
FOR DIRECTOR JOHNSON.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TALK ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF
SHELTERS DOWNTOWN.
YOU SAID THAT SOME OF THE
SHELTERS ARE OVER CAPACITY BUT
I'M JUST WONDERING ARE YOU
DIRECTING PEOPLE TO SOME OF THE
SHELTERS THAT ARE
UNDERCAPACITY?
IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A
DISTRIBUTION ISSUE.
>> NONE OF THE SHELTERS ARE
OPERATING OVER CAPACITY.
WE WERE AT A CAPACITY SERVING
170 INDIVIDUALS LAST NIGHT.
WE WERE UNDER CAPACITY AT THE
KING COUNTY ADD A MIN BUILDING.
SO TONIGHT THE SALVATION ARMY,
WHO STAFFS BOTH OF THOSE
SHELTERSL BE MAKING SURE THAT
WE'RE MAKING FULL USE OF THE
SHELTER AT KING COUNTY ADMIN
BUILDING SO THAT NO ONE IS
TURNED AWAY.
THE SHELTER AT THE CITY -- AT
THE EXHIBITION HALL AT SEATTLE
CENTER, THE SALVATION ARMY ALSO
STAFFS THAT SHELTER.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO EXPAND
STAFFING TODAY SO THAT THEY CAN
ACCOMMODATE THE GROWING NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE USING THAT
SHELTER.
AGAIN, THEY HAVE A NO-TURN-AWAY
POLICY SO THEY ARE INVITING
ANYONE WHO CAN COME INDOORS TO
DO THAT.
AND TONIGHT WE'LL HAVE
ADDITIONAL STAFF AND MATERIALS
TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED
NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
>> Reporter: ARE THERE MORE
PEOPLE THIS YEAR THAN LAST
YEAR?
I'VE HEARD THERE WAS AN ISSUE
WITH SUPPLIES FOR ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING, MATS
AND BLANKETS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WE'RE OPENING BITTER LAKE AS
I MENTIONED.
AND BITTER LAKE BEFORE THE
STORM CAME WE MADE SURE WAS
FULLY SUPPLIED.
WE DO WANT TO HELP REDISTRIBUTE
MATERIALS AND GET MATS AND
COTS, BLANKETS AND OTHER
SUPPLIES TO EXHIBITION HAS.
WE'LL BE DOING THAT TODAY.
WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE
MATERIALS WE NEED TO
ACCOMMODATE THE ADDITIONAL
CAPACITY.
TODAY WILL JUST BE SOME
LOGISTICAL DETAILS TO MOVE SOME
MATERIALS AROUND.
>> YESTERDAY WE GOT A NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS ABOUT IF PEOPLE
WANTED TO MAKE DONATIONS.
WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF
GENEROUS PEOPLE STOP AT
SHELTERS, STOP AT FIRE
STATIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DONATION
PLEASE GO ON-LINE TO THE UNITED
WAY.
IT IS GOING TO BE THE EASIEST
WAY FOR US TO GET THINGS AND
RESOURCES TO DISTRIBUTE.
LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO WORK
WITH A NUMBER OF LARGER PLACES
LIKE COSTCO THAT WERE ABLE TO
GIVE US IN A FORMAL WAY SOME
SOCKS, SOME BLANKETS AND THE
LIKE.
THAT'S BETTER IF IT'S CENTRAL.
AGAIN IF YOU'RE MAKING
CONTRIBUTIONS, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
BUT THE BEST WAY TO HELP PEOPLE
IS, NUMBER ONE, CHECK ON THE
NEIGHBOR AND THE PEOPLE AROUND
YOU.
NUMBER TWO, STAY SAFE YOURSELF.
NUMBER THREE, IF YOU HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO DO MORE AND WANT TO
DONATE PLEASE GO ON-LINE TO
UNITED WAY.
ONE MORE QUESTION, IF THERE'S
OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> Reporter: I HAVE A QUESTION
FOR BRIAN WITH WSDOT.
I WAS WONDERING, WAS THE 520
BRIDGE --
>> GO TO THE MIC, PLEASE.
>> Reporter: WAS IT PRETREATED
YESTERDAY BEFORE THE COLLISION?
>> I HONESTLY AM NOT FULLY
INFORMED INVESTOR PLACE THAT WE
PRETREAT.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE TREAT THE
BRIDGE OVER THE WATER OR WHAT
MATERIALS WE USE, BUT WE HAVE
ALL OF OUR CREWS ON SITE
TREATING THE ROADWAYS WHERE
NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE.
>> Reporter: WELL, AFTER THE
COLLISION ARE YOU PRIORITIZE
AING BRIDGES?
WE KNOW THAT BRIDGES FREEZE
FASTER THAN ROADS.
YOU SAID SOME OF THE AREAS WERE
REALLY HARD TO GET TO.
ARE YOU GUYS PRIORITIZING THAT
TONIGHT IF THE TEMPERATURES
FALL AGAIN?
>> BRIDGES AND APPROACHES TO
BRIDGES ARE AN AREA THAT WE
NORMALLY PRIORITIZE, YES.
AND WE WILL BE OUT ALL DAY
TODAY AND THINK ADDRESSING T%E
ISSUES AS THEY ARISE.
>> Reporter: YOU WILL BE
TREATING THE 520 BRIDGE TODAY
BEFORE TONIGHT?
>> WE WILL HAVE CREWS ON 520
TODAY, YES.
>> Reporter: LAST QUESTION.
AVE QUESTION ABOUT THE HOMELESS
SITUATION IF I MAY.
SO WHAT I'VE SEEN, I KNOW YOU
HAVE INCREASED CAPACITY.
FIRST, CAN YOU -- HOW DO YOU
GET PEOPLE TO GO?
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO GO ARE
THEY ALLOWED TO STAY OUT IN THE
ELEMENTS?
>> SO I THINK WE GO ON RANGE OF
EXPERIENCE.
LAST YEAR WE SAW, AS WE'VE SEEN
ALWAYS, THAT IT TAKES MULTIPLE
TIMES CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE
FOR THEM TO TRUST AND COME
INSIDE.
BUT WE SAW GREATER UPTAKE LAST
YEAR THE SECOND OR THIRD DAY OF
OUR SNOWSTORM WHERE PEOPLE
REALIZED THAT IT WAS NO LONGER
CAPABLE FOR THEM TO STAY.
AND THEY GOT TO THE SHELTERS
THAT WE STOOD UP.
AND THEN WE HAD ACTUALLY A
GREAT DEAL OF SUCCESS IN HAVING
THOSE PEOPLE THEMSELVES,
SOMETIMES WITH THEMSELVES GO
OUT WITH THE NAVIGATION TEAM TO
ENCAMPMENTS SAYING, HEY, YOU
SHOULD COME INSIDE.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE.
IT'S SAFE.
AND SO IT IS A CONSTANT ENGAGE
AMENT THAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH
PEOPLE LIVING OUTSIDE.
AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE LIVING
OUTSIDE, WE ALSO ARE TRYING TO
MAKE SURE AS WE BRING THEM
INSIDE, WE LEARNED LESSONS LAST
YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE ASK THEM,
DO YOU HAVE MEDICATIONS?
DO YOU HAVE THINGS YOU NEED TO
BRING?
AND SO WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T FORCE
PEOPLE TO COME INSIDE.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH SPACES AND
WE HAVE PROACTIVE ENOUGH
OUTREACH THAT WE REALLY ARE
TRYING TO GET PEOPLE SAFE AND
WARM.
AND IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING
HERE.
IF YOU'VE WATCHED THE VARIOUS
NEWS CHANNELS, UP AND DOWN THE
I-5 CORRIDOR IN ALL THE SMALL
TOWNS YOU'RE SEEING THAT
CHURCHES AND OTHERS ARE OPENING
WARMING CENTERS.
THEY'RE OUT ACTIVELY ENGAGING,
BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT ARE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS DON'T
STOP AT THE CITY BORDERS.
AS WE KNOW IT IS THE NUMBER ONE
ISSUE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL WE
CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
SAFE, BRING THEM INSIDE, HAVE
FOOD, HAVE SHELTER, HAVE
ANYTHING THEY NEED FOR MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, PATROL OFFICERS, IF
THEY SEE SOMEONE, THEY'RE GOING
TO ENGAGE WITH THEM TO TRY TO
GET THEM INSIDE.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING
THAT.
OUR SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES,
THE OUR PARKS.
ALL THE CITY WORKERS WHO ARE
OUT THERE HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN
MIND.
KEEP EVERYONE IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE REGION SAY.
AND THE NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN
DO, IF ALL THE PEOPLE WATCHING
OR LISTENING TO YOUR BROADCAST
DO THAT AND HELP US, WE'RE
GOING TO GET THROUGH THESE NEXT
TWO DAYS, AND HOPEFULLY WE
WON'T GET ANOTHER STORM THIS
YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS, LET'S DO THAT AFTER.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
>> THANK YOU.