>>> WE ARE HERE TODAY FOR THE
WINTER WEATHER PRESS BRIEFING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE
CALL.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHO IS ON
THE LINE TO HELP ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
TO DATE WILL BE HEARING FROM
SEATTLE MAYOR JENNY A. DURKAN
AT THE TOP FOLLOWED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
WE WILL ALSO HERE FROM THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
KC METRO, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES, AND THE ASSISTANT
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR
MAINTENANCE OF WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE WILL FOLLOW WITH A BRIEF
Q&A.
FOR THAT WE ALSO HAVE DIRECTORS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS, SEATTLE PARKS
AND RECREATION, FAS, SEATTLE
CITY LIGHT, SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTILITIES, SEATTLE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, AND SEATTLE POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR WASH.
WE NEED TO FRONTLOAD THOSE.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ARE IN
THE PRESS AND HAVE A QUESTION
FOR -- WASH DOT.
I WILL HANDED OVER TO SEATTLE
MAYOR JENNY A. DURKAN.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER OVER THE
LAST YEAR FOR A NUMBER OF
CRISES AND EMERGENCIES AND I AM
WEARING THESE JACKET TO TELL
YOU WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SNOW.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
HAS SAID SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY WILL HAVE AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF COLD TEMPERATURES
WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW STARTING
AS EARLY AS TOMORROW WITH
POTENTIAL ACCUMULATION
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
AT THE CITY, WE WILL CONTINUE
TO MONITOR THIS CLOSELY.
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITIES TO
PREPARE FOR THIS WINTER WEATHER
AS WE GO INTO OUR COLDEST AND
WETTEST MONTHS.
IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WETTEST
WINTERS ON RECORD AND NOW WE
ARE IN A PERIOD OF COLD.
EVERY WINTER IT SEEMS WE COME
TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR REGION
MOVING WITH THE STORMS.
WE WILL BE TALKING TO YOU
TODAY.
REMEMBER IT WAS JUST 2019 WHEN
WE HAVE THE WORST SNOWSTORMS IN
50 YEARS.
DURING THE 2019 STORM ABOUT 350
CITY EMPLOYEES WORKED AROUND
THE CLOCK IN BACK-TO-BACK
SHIFTS TO KEEP THE CITY MOVING.
IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED
COLLABORATION ACROSS AGENCIES
AND WORKERS FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
UTLITIES, PARKS AND
RECREATION, CITY LIGHT, AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS AT
METRO AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND OTHERS WORK
TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR REGION
MOVING.
THIS PAST YEAR HAS SHOWN US WE
NEED TO BE READY FOR ANYTHING,
INCLUDING WINTER STORMS.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING YEAR-ROUND
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED
SHOULD AN EVENT LIKE THIS HAPPEN
SO THAT OUR WORK CREWS ARE
READY TO GO TO KEEP THE ROADS
CLEAR OF EVERYTHING FROM FALLEN
TREES TO THE SNOW AND ICE.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE ALSO UPDATED
OUR PLANS TO ADDRESS OTHER
MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE
FACING.
WE HAVE UPDATED FOR EXAMPLE OUR
SNOW ROUTES TO LOOK AT THE WEST
SEATTLE BRIDGE SO PEOPLE KNOW
WHERE TO GO AND PARTICULARLY SO
THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS HAVE A
CLEAR CONNECTION WITH THE REST
OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH OUR HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE
THAT OUR SNOW ROUTES REACH OUR
COVID-19 TESTING SITES SO THOSE
ROADS ARE CLEAR FOR THOSE WHO
NEED TO GET TESTED AND WE ARE
READY TO MAKE MORE UPDATES AS
WE SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO BE
CHECKING IN ON OUR NEIGHBORS
AND LOOKING OUT FOR OUR FRIENDS.
WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW
FREEZING IN THE COMING DAYS,
OUR NEIGHBORS ARE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND NEED A WARM
SPACE TO GO.
WE WILL HAVE THE DIRECTOR WHO
WILL TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO BRING
MORE PEOPLE INSIDE.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE NAVIGATION
TEAM THIS YEAR.
THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PROACTIVELY
GET PEOPLE AND BRING THEM INTO
THE SHELTERS BUT WE ARE LOOKING
AT OTHER RESOURCES TO DO THAT
INCLUDING HEALTHONE, WHICH WILL
PROACTIVELY OUTREACH TO PEOPLE
AND TRY TO BRING INDIVIDUALS TO
SHELTER, PROVIDE WARM CLOTHING,
DRINKS AND THE LIKE TWO PEOPLE.
FINALLY, I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE
THAT WE HAVE TO CHECK ON OUR
NEIGHBORS IN TIMES LIKE THIS.
ESPECIALLY OUR SENIORS AND
DISABLED NEIGHBORS.
ALSO REMEMBER YOU HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOVEL THE
SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF YOUR
PROPERTY.
IF YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT
CANNOT DO IT, HELP THEM OUT AND
SHOVEL THERE'S TOO.
REMEMBER THERE ARE A LOT OF
PEOPLE THAT CANNOT CLEAR THE
SNOW BUT THE CLEAR SIDEWALKS
ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY ELSE
IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN
WALK.
ALSO, DON'T WAIT IF YOU NEED A
SHOVEL OR SALT.
I HOPE YOU HAVE SUPPLIES ON
HAND.
ALSO HAVE GROCERIES AND THE
ABILITY TO KEEP WARM.
WE COULD BE LOSING POWER.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR
PLAN IS FOR THAT.
NEXT UP YOU WILL HEAR FROM A
RANGE OF CITY DEPARTMENT
DIRECTORS.
ANTHONY ALSO MENTIONED THEM.
AT THIS TIME, IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON HOW
CRITICAL OUR REGIONAL RESPONSES
AND HOW ARE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
WORKS TOGETHER SO YOU WILL HEAR
FROM OTHER PARTNERS FROM SOUND
TRANSIT AND METRO AND THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
IS PARTICIPATING TODAY, THANKS
TO THE CITY WORKERS WHO ARE
READY AND ENGAGED TO DO THIS.
ALSO THANK YOU TO THE DIRECTORS
HERE TODAY WHO ARE READY TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
REMEMBER, WE ARE STILL IN THE
MIDDLE OF A COVID EMERGENCY.
BE SURE TO BE WEARING YOUR
MASKS, WASH YOUR HANDS, STAY AT
HOME UNLESS YOU NEED TO GO OUT.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
MAYOR DURKAN.
WE ARE WATCHING THREE STORMS ,
THE FIRST IS EXPECTED TO MOVE
INTO THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT
INTO FRIDAY MORNING.
THE STORMS WILL ALL BRING
DANGEROUSLY COLD TEMPERATURES.
EVEN IF WE DO NOT SEE A LOT OF
ACCUMULATION, YOU CAN EXPECT
THE WEATHER TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY
COLD.
AND WE HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR
ANOTHER STORM ON SATURDAY.
AT THIS POINT IT SHOULD BE THE
MOST IMPACTFUL WITH SEVERAL
INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE IN
SEATTLE. THE THIRD STORM IS
COMING SUNDAY EVENING WHICH MAY
BE WARMER AND TURN INTO SLUSH.
SO WE ARE KEEPING OUR EYES ON
THAT. AS YOU KNOW THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS CHANGE QUICKLY AND
WE WILL BE UPDATING YOU VERY
FREQUENTLY.
THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT IS WORKING WITH OUR
CITY DEPARTMENTS TO COORDINATE
RESPONSE EFFORTS AND WE ARE
DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE
EVERYBODY HAS THE RESPONSE
NEEDS MET INCLUDING STOPPING
FOR SNOW REMOVAL, SNOW AND ICE
CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO OUT
PLEASE STAY HOME IF POSSIBLE.
IF YOU DO GO OUT MAKE SURE TO
DRIVE SLOWLY AND HAVE SUPPLIES
IN THE CAR WITH YOU,
FLASHLIGHTS, A SNACK, WATER.
THANK YOU MAYOR DURKAN FOR
BRINGING UP CHECKING ON YOUR
NEIGHBORS.
THAT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AT
THIS TIME NOT ONLY THE ELDERLY
NEIGHBORS BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT
SEEN SOMEONE IN A WHILE, MAKE
SURE YOU CHECK ON THEM.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED ALSO
MAKE SURE TO KEEP YOUR
SIDEWALKS CLEAN SO EVERYBODY
CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE AROUND.
AND, FINALLY, IF YOU'D LIKE TO
RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS YOU
CAN SIGN UP FOR THAT WITH ALERT
SEATTLE. THEY WILL PROVIDE
INFORMATION ON THE STORM
IMPACTS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.
IT IS EASY TO SIGN UP.
JUST VISIT ALERT.SEATTLE.GOV
AND YOU WILL GET THOSE
NOTICES.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
DIRECTOR CURRY MAYER.
>>> HELLO.
I'M THE INTERIM DIRECTOR FOR
THE SEATTLE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
. WE SUPPORT THE HOMELESSNESS
PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CRITICAL
FOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO
OLDER RESIDENTS AND INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE
HOMEBOUND.
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE UPCOMING
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER, HST IS
WORKING TO STAND UP EMERGENCY
SHELTER.
AND THEY WILL DEPLOY TEAMS FOR
OUTREACH REFERRALS AND WE ARE
MONITORING THE FOOD BANKS AND
MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL STATUS
FOR OUR AGING AND DISABILITY
CASE MANAGERS WHO PROVIDE THE
IN-HOME CARE.
THE CITY OPENED UP THE PAVILION
AT THE SEATTLE CENTER LAST
NIGHT, THE PAVILION HAS THE
CAPACITY FOR UP TO 78 PEOPLE.
WITHIN THE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS,
IT IS BEING OPERATED BY THE
SALVATION ARMY.
IT IS A CITY SEVERE WEATHER
PROVIDER.
LAST NIGHT, 27 PEOPLE UTILIZED
THE SHELTER AND WE EXPECT THIS
NUMBER TO INCREASE AS THE WEEK
DOES PROGRESS.
THE SHELTER WILL OPERATE
THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
IT IS AN OVERNIGHT FACILITY
ONLY RIGHT NOW BUT WE ARE
WORKING TO FIND A DAYTIME
OPERATOR AND I'M VERY
OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL
IDENTIFY ONE. IT IS WORTH
NOTING HOWEVER DUE TO COVID-19
AND THE ONGOING IMPACT TO THE
SHELTER SYSTEM, STAFFING
CAPACITY IS LIMITED FOR ALL OF
OUR PROVIDERS AND IT PRESENTS
CHALLENGES TO OPENING MULTIPLE
SITES QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY FOR
THE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS
PER WEEK, SERVICES.
FISHER PAVILION AND OTHER
SHELTERS ARE OPERATED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
CODE 19 PROTOCOLS INCLUDING
PHYSICAL DISTANCING, WEARING
MASKS, SCREENING FOR SYSTEMS.
SHOWER TRAILERS ARE PROVIDED AT
FISHER PAVILION FOR DAILY
CLEANING.
AND HSD PROVIDES FOOD . DESPITE
THE STAFFING CHALLENGES AS I
MENTIONED, WE ARE WORKING TO
IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS.
WE WILL SHARE MORE INFORMATION
AS WE HAVE IT. ADDITIONALLY I
WOULD NOTE THAT KING COUNTY HAS
OPENED ITS JEFFERSON DAY CENTER
AS AN OVERNIGHT WINTER SHELTER
AND THAT PROGRAM HAS THE
CAPACITY FOR 25 MEN.
AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
CONTRACT PROVIDERS, THE TEAM
WILL COORDINATE SHELTER
REFERRALS INTO THE TEMPORARY
COLD WEATHER SHELTER AND OTHER
CITY FUNDED SHELTERS.
IT WILL, THE HOPE TEAM, WILL
ASSIST SEATTLE PARKS AND
HEALTHONE WITH PROVIDING EVENING
WELFARE VISITS TO PEOPLE LIVING
IN SHELTER ENCAMPMENTS.
SEATTLE PARKS IS LENDING VANS
TO THE HOPE TEAM TO HELP WITH
TRANSPORTATION.
ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE SOMEWHAT
LIMITED DUE TO THE COVID-19
PROTOCOLS SO ANYONE WHO CAN
MAKE IT TO THE SHELTER
THEMSELVES SHOULD DO SO.
THE HOPE TEAM ALSO HAS WINTER
WEATHER SUPPLIES TO DISTRIBUTE
INCLUDING HAND WARMERS,
EMERGENCY BLANKETS, MASKS AND
GLOVES.
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN
ORDERED.
WITH REGARD TO THE FOOD BANKS,
THERE ARE NO KNOWN IMPACTS TO
THE FOOD BANK AND MEAL PROGRAMS
AT THIS TIME.
THE CITY WILL PUSH OUT
INFORMATION TO THOSE PROVIDERS
AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE
STATUS OF THOSE PROGRAMS AT AS
IT IS REPORTED TO US.
FINALLY, THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO
IMPACTS TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT
ROGRAM.
NONE WITH AGING AND DISABILITY
SERVICES.
WE ALSO ARE CONTINUING TO
PARTNER WITH PUBLIC HEALTH ON
THE COVID-19 VACCINE EFFORTS.
FOR DETAILED INFORMATION WITH
REGARD TO THE VACCINES AND
TESTING PLEASE REACH OUT TO
SEATTLE KING COUNTY PUBLIC
HEALTH FOR MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH DIRECTOR
HWEL.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM DIRECTOR OF THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
OUR CREWS ARE READY TO WORK 24
SEVEN TO WORK WITH THE STREETS
AND BUSES AND EMERGENCY
VEHICLES.
I WANT TO THANK THE WOMEN AND
MEN WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY
OVER THE LAST YEAR AS WE
MODIFIED PRACTICES DURING THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO KEEP OUR
TEAM SAFE AS WELL AS KEEPING
THE COMMUNITY SAFE AND MOVING.
EACH YEAR WE UPDATE OUR PLAN
BASED ON LESSONS FROM THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE UPDATED THE
RESPONSE TO TALK ABOUT THE
CHALLENGE OF THE CLOSURE AND
COVID-19.
THE PRIORITIES WILL CONTINUE TO
BE PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY AND
MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS
TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH HOSPITALS
AND EMERGENCY SERVICES TO MAKE
SURE THE EMERGENCY ROUTES ARE
CLEARED AS SOON AS ABLE AND WE
HAVE WORKED WITH METRO TO
ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES IN
KEEPING THE TRANSIT STOPS
AVAILABLE AND MAKING SURE ALL
OF THE ROUTES ARE SYNCED UP SO
WE COULD COMMUNICATE IF ANY
CHALLENGES ARISE.
THE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS
AS YOU KNOW ARE UNPREDICTABLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN SNOW STARTS
FALLING QUICKLY IN THIS REGION.
PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE IF YOU DO
NOT HAVE TO DURING A SNOWSTORM.
PLAN AHEAD IF YOU DO.
PLAN TO GO SLOWLY AND BE
CAREFUL.
WATCH OUT FOR OTHERS AND LEAVE
PLENTY OF ROOM FOR SNOWPLOWS
AND OTHER VEHICLES.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CAR IS
SAFER WINTER DRIVING AND PAY
ATTENTION TO ROAD CLOSURE
SIGNS.
WE CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE AT ONCE.
WITH OVER 2400 MILES OF
SIDEWALK IN SEATTLE, WE DEPEND
ON THE PUBLIC TO DO YOUR PART
AS WELL TO CLEAR THE SIDEWALKS
AND CURB RAMPS AROUND YOUR
HOMES AND BUSINESSES.
WE ARE READY TO DEPLOY CREWS
FOR THE PEDESTRIAN OVERPASES
AND STAIRWELLS THAT ARE NOT
NEAR HOMES OR BUSINESSES.
WE ALSO HAVE DEDICATED TEAMS TO
CLEAR THE BIKE LANDS OR CLEAR
FALLEN AND DAMAGED TREES AND
CAN RESPOND TO THE UNPREDICTABLE
CONSEQUENCES OF A STORM LIKE
THIS.
I WILL TURN IT BACK TO ANTHONY.
OR OVER TO TERRY WHITE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH DIRECTOR
ZIMBABWE.
NEXT WE HAVE TERRY WHITE FROM
KING COUNTY METRO.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF
KING COUNTY METRO.
A PARTNERSHIP WITH SDOT, WASHED
OUT -- WASH.
D.O.T.
. WE ARE WORKING WITH
INCREDIBLY CAPABLE PERSONNEL
WHO ARE WORKING WITH SHIFTS AND
OUR EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN TESTED
AND READY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
CONNECTING OUR CUSTOMERS TO
CRITICAL NEEDS INCLUDING MOVING
ESSENTIAL RIDERS TO WORK ON
MEDICAL CARE, FOOD AND TOO MUCH
MORE, THIS COMMITMENT TO
PROVIDING ABILITY CONTINUES
EVEN WHEN THERE IS NONE.
EVEN IF WE EXPERIENCE SNOW ON
THE STREET CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE
AWARE YOU COULD HAVE DISRUPTION
OF SERVICE AND WE STARTED
PREPARING FOR RIDERS EARLIER
THIS WINTER.
YOU CAN GO TO METRO WINTER.COM
TO LOOK AT THE SNOW GUIDE AND
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO
FIND OUT IF YOUR ROUTE IS
OPERATING MANUALLY OR ON A SNOW
ROUTE. WE ALSO SEND TRANSIT
ALERTS REMINDING CUSTOMERS OF
THESE RESOURCES.
ONCE A RIDER IS READY TO TRAVEL
AND CONFIRMED THE ROUTE IS
OPERATING, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO
LOOK AT ONE OF THE REAL TIME
TOOLS.
YOU CAN TEXT THE WORD DEPARTURE
TO THE NUMBER 62550.
LASTLY AS NEW INFORMATION
BECOMES AVAILABLE THIS WEEK AND
ASKED DISRUPTIONS OCCUR WE WILL
CONTINUE TO SHARE UPDATES VIA
TWITTER THROUGH TRANSIT ALERTS
AND ON METRO WINTER.COM.
WE ARE MONITORING THE
CONDITIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
I DID MISSPEAK EARLIER, KING
COUNTY METRO NEEDS TO LEAVE
THAT TO 30.
-- 2:30.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS IN THE
CHAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
FOR KING COUNTY METRO.
I THINK WE SEE TRACY RECORD.
YOU CAN GO FIRST.
>> Reporter: IT ISN'T A QUESTION
FOR METRO BUT IT IS A QUESTION
FOR SAM.
>> TRACY WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF
TIME LATER TO GET BACK TO
EVERYONE ELSE.
I WILL TAKE THE QUESTION NOW
FROM MIKE LYNN BLOOM.
GO AHEAD, MIKE.
>> Reporter: CAN YOU HEAR ME
OKAY?>> YES I CAN.>> LIMITING
AND SOCIAL DISTANCING, THAT
MEANS 12 OR 18 PASSENGERS ON
METRO.
MANY ARE WAITING AT STOPS IN
THE COLD TRYING TO GET ON A
BUS.
HOW ARE YOU OR YOUR TRANSIT
OPERATORS DEALING WITH THOSE
SITUATIONS?
>> THANK YOU, MIKE, WITH
PANDEMIC CAPACITY LIMITS IN
PLACE, THEY WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE, SO THE RIDER SHOULD BE
AWARE THAT DISRUPTIONS COULD
MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO TRAVEL
AND BE PREPARED AS BEST AS THEY
CAN.
ULTIMATELY OUR GOAL REMAINS TO
KEEP SERVICE MOVING SAFELY AS
ROAD CONDITIONS ALLOW.
IF SERVICES ARE REROUTED OR
TRIPS MUST BE CANCELED, WE WANT
THE RIDERS TO BE READY FOR THAT.
WE'VE BEEN ADDRESSING CAPACITY
LOADS HERE FOR REALLY THE
LATTER PART OF THE PAST SIX
MONTHS.
WE DO EXPECT TO DO THAT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE
FOLKS SAFELY AND WITH HEALTHY
CONCERNS AS A PRIORITY FOR THE
RIDERS.
>> RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SEEING NO FURTHER HANDS UP, I
THINK WE WILL RESUME THE SHOW.
>>> NEXT UP WE HAVE THE CEO OF
SOUND TRANSIT.
>> THANK YOU, ANTHONY.
I HAVE A LOT OF SIMILARITY
BETWEEN WHAT TERRY AND SAM AND
I HAVE TO SAY.
WE ARE WORKING CAREFULLY WITH
KING COUNTY METRO AND PARTNERS
AND TRANSIT TO THE NORTH AND
SOUTH TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE
SAFE OPTIONS, EVEN IN THE EVENT
OF SNOW.
IF YOU CAN STAY HOME, YOU
SHOULD.
DURING THE LAST MAJOR SNOW
EVENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
LIGHT RAIL WAS A GOOD RELIABLE
WAY TO GET AROUND.
AS NEEDED WE WILL RUN TRAINS
WITHOUT PASSENGERS THROUGH THE
NIGHT TO KEEP THE TRACKS AND
POWER WIRES CLEAR OF THE SNOW
AND ICE.
OUR DEPUTY EXECUTIVE OF LIGHT
RAIL LEARNED THE TRADE IN THE
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AREA AND
WE ARE NOT DAUNTED ON OPERATING
IN SNOW AND WE KNOW HOW TO DO
IT WELL.
IMPORTANTLY PASSENGERS NEED TO
NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF COVID WE
ARE RUNNING LESS FREQUENT
SERVICE THAN ONE YEAR AGO SO
LIGHT RAIL WILL BE EVERY 12
MINUTES DURING PEAK HOURS AND
EVERY 15 MINUTES DURING THE
REST OF THE DAY AND ON WEEKENDS.
EXCEPT FOR THE VERY EARLY HOURS
, BEFORE 6:00 A.M.
AND AFTER 10:30 A.M.
, THAT'S WHEN WE RUN EVERY HALF
HOUR.
PEOPLE WANT TO BUNDLE UP ON THE
EXPOSED PLATFORMS TO STAY WARM.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ON THE
CORRECT FOOTWEAR AS WELL FOR
THE PLATFORMS.
WE WILL BE CLEARING THE
WALKWAYS OF ANY SNOW BUT, WE
CANNOT BE AT EVERY STATION AT
ALL TIMES SO WE WILL WORK WITH
A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
THE COMMUTER RAIL WILL BE
RUNNING INTO TACOMA UP TO
SEATTLE AS WELL AS DOWN FROM
EVERETT AS SCHEDULED ON THE
WEEKDAYS.
AGAIN, SERVICES ARE LESS
FREQUENT SO PLEASE CHECK THE
SCHEDULES ON OUR WEBSITE IN
TERMS OF WHEN THE TRAINS ARE
SCHEDULED.
IF YOU DO RIDE SOUND TRANSIT
EXPRESS BUSES, YOUR EXPERIENCE
WILL BE SIMILAR FOR WHAT TERRY
TOLD YOU ABOUT KING COUNTY
METRO.
WE WILL FOLLOW THE ROUTES AS
MUCH AS WE CAN.
SOME ROUTES MAY BE CANCELED.
THE BEST WAY TO FOLLOW WHAT
YOUR OPTIONS ARE IS TO GET THE
RIDER ALERTS.
YOU CAN GO TO SOUNDTRANSIT.ORG
TO GET THOSE RIDER ALERTS WHICH
WILL COME RIGHT TO YOUR PHONE.
YOU CAN ALSO CHECK THE WEBSITE
BEFORE TO MAKE SURE THE
SERVICES ARE RUNNING AS EXPECTED
OR IF THERE ARE ANY DELAYS.
LASTLY, I WANT TO REITERATE
WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, PLEASE BE
SURE TO BE WEARING YOUR MASKS.
THERE'S A NEW BIDEN DIRECTIVE
ORDER AND GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC,
WEARING MASKS WERE ALREADY
REQUIRED BUT NOW FAILING TO DO
SO CAN ALSO BE A VIOLATION OF
FEDERAL LAW.
WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN
ENFORCING ANYTHING ON ANYONE
AND WE JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO
BE WEARING THEIR MASKS.
WE NEED TO GET TO 100%.
WE ARE AT 90%.
PLEASE BE WEARING YOUR MASKS
DURING SNOW AND TRAVELING AT
ANY OTHER TIME.>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH PETER
ROGOFF.
>>> NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM DAVID
McCORMICK.
>> HELLO. WASH DOT IS OUT ALL
WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS KEEPING
TRAVELERS SAFE.
WE ARE CLEARLY READY TO
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE EXTENDED OUR SHIFTS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING
CONTINUOUSLY AS THE STORMS COME
THROUGH THE SEATTLE AREA.
ALSO, WE HAVE OUR INCIDENT
RESPONSE TEAMS OUT AND THEY
WILL BE AVAILABLE SHOULD YOU
GET IN TROUBLE WHILE YOU ARE ON
THE ROAD.
WE HAVE COORDINATED WITH THIS
GROUP AND TOGETHER WE ARE A
GOOD AND POWERFUL SNOW FIGHTING
TEAM.
WE WILL ALL BE READY FOR YOU.
IF YOU DO NEED TO TRAVEL.
THE BEST WAY TO STAY SAFE IS TO
STAY HOME AND AVOID UNNECESSARY
TRAVEL.
BUT IF YOU DO NEED TO GO OUT
CHECK YOUR VEHICLES AND MAKE
SURE THAT YOU HAVE GOOD TIRES.
AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CHAINS
IF NEEDED AND BEFORE YOU
TRAVEL, BE SURE TO CHECK
CONDITIONS.
THE HILLS THAT SEATTLE IS
FAMOUS FOR AND THE HIGHWAYS ARE
FAMOUS FOR, YOU NEED TO BE
EXTRA CAREFUL AND LOOK AT THE
CONDITIONS.
WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROADWAYS,
THE BEST DEFENSIVE DRIVING TIPS
I KNOW TO GIVE YOU IS TO GIVE
PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN
YOURSELF AND THE VEHICLE IN
FRONT OF YOU.
ALSO, KEEP THAT SNOWPLOW IN
FONT OF YOU.
IF YOU GO PAST THE SNOWPLOW
YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING INTO A
CRASH GO UP EXPONENTIALLY.
BE SURE TO BE SAFE.
ENJOY THE SNOW.
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT
WSDOT IS HERE TO PROVIDE A
SAFE TRAVEL ENVIRONMENT AS
POSSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH DAVE AND
TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS HERE
TODAY.>> WE DO HAVE 15 MINUTES
LEFT AND PEOPLE HERE TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS, WE WILL PROVIDE
SINGLE QUESTIONS TODAY, NO
FOLLOW-UPS.
WE WILL START WITH TRACY WHO I
RUDELY CUT OFF EARLIER.
TRACY, GO AHEAD.
>> Reporter: THIS QUESTION IS
FOR SAM.
WHAT ROLE DO PEOPLE PLAY IN
HELPING WITH YOUR RESPONSE?
WHAT PART IS PROACTIVE AND WHAT
PART IS REACTIVE? WINDY WANT
AND NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC
AND WHAT YOU NOT WANT THEM TO
BE CALLING ABOUT?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
TRACY.
I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST
TO SHOVEL THE SIDEWALK OUTSIDE
OF YOUR PROPERTY.
AS MAYOR DURKAN SAID, LOOK OUT
FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS WHO CANNOT
SHOVEL THEIR OWN.
THAT'S HOW YOU CAN HELP THE
COMMUNITY.
IF THERE ARE INCIDENTS ,
TRAFFIC OR OTHERWISE, PEOPLE
STUCK FOR EXAMPLE, REPORTING
THOSE IN THROUGH OUR 684-ROAD,
LINE IS A GOOD WAY TO BE
ALERTED TO THE ISSUES AS THEY
ARISE.
THOSE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A TRIP
DURING THE SNOWSTORM PLEASE DO
NOT BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP US
KEEP THE ROADS AS CLEAR AS
POSSIBLE.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH
TRACY AND SAM.
>>> NOW WE WILL GO TO ERICA
BARNETT.
>> Reporter: HELLO, THIS IS A
QUESTION FOR MAYOR DURKAN
ABOUT THE SHELTERS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WOULD
BE A ANNOUNCED ABOUT THE HOTEL
BASE SHELTERS THIS WEEK. CAN
YOU TELL ME ABOUT ANY MORE OF
THEM OPENING?
>> [ INDISCERNIBLE -- AUDIO
CUTTING OUT ] SHELTER PLAN.
I ASSUME THAT MEANS FOR THE
SNOW RESPONSE.
WE OUTLINE TODAY WHAT THE
EMERGENCY SHELTERS ARE BEING
PUT UP AND THAT'S IN ADDITION
TO THE OTHER SHELTERS THAT ARE
STANDING UP.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING ON
TRYING TO BRING AS MANY PEOPLE
IN DURING THIS COLD WEATHER.
WE NOTED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT BUT
THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE
OUTSIDE.
WE ARE TRYING TO BRING PEOPLE
OUTSIDE.
AND CAN I ADD SOMETHING AFTER
THE Q&A AS WELL, ANTHONY?>> YES
OF COURSE.
WE WILL GO WITH MICHELLE NEXT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: [ SILENCE ]
>> MICHELLE WE WILL TROUBLESHOOT
YOU AND GO TO BEN NEXT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS, BEN.
>> Reporter: I DID NOT REQUEST
TO ASK A QUESTION, ANTHONY AND
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT
MISCOMMUNICATION.>> NO PROBLEM.
LET'S GO TO KARRAH NEXT.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THANK YOU SO MUCH,
ANTHONY. I WILL STEP IN FOR
MICHELLE SINCE HER MICROPHONE
IS NOT WORKING.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR MAYOR
DURKAN.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO THE
TRANSPARENCY OF THE
INVESTIGATION FROM THE OFFICER-
INVOLVED SHOOTING LAST NIGHT,
HOW MANY OFFICERS FIRED SHOTS
AND WHEN YOU ANTICIPATE
RELEASING THE BODY CAM VIDEO?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
PREFER WIKI THE QUESTIONS LD
DIRECTED TO THE SNOW.
THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.
THE POLICY OF THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO RELEASE
THE BODY CAM VIDEO WITHIN 72
HOURS AND TO RELEASE
INFORMATION AS IT BECOMES
KNOWN.
WE WANT TO MAKE VERY SURE THEY
DID NOT RELEASE INFORMATION
THAT IS NOT ACCURATE OR THAT
WOULD PREJUDICE THE
INVESTIGATION SO I REFER YOU TO
THE POLICE.
THEY USUALLY RELEASE THE BODY
CAMERA VIDEO WITHIN 72 HOURS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR
DURKAN.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
MICHELLE WITH THE SEATTLE TIMES.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: HELLO. THIS
QUESTION IS FOR MAYOR DURKAN OR
KING COUNTY METRO.
YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE REVIEWING
SEATTLE PROTOCOLS INCLUDING THE
SIDEWALK CLEARING POLICY.
IS THERE ANY UPDATE TO ADDING
MORE SIDEWALKS TO THE LIST,
PARTICULARLY THOSE CLOSER TO
BUSINESSES?
THOSE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO
CLEAR?>> I WILL LET SAM ANSWER
THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU, MICHELLE.>> YES.
WE CONTINUE TO SHOVEL SIDEWALKS
THAT ARE NOT ADJACENT TO ANY
OTHER PROPERTIES, ESPECIALLY
THOSE ON BRIDGES, STEROIDS, --
STAIRWAYS. WE DO SHOVEL
SIDEWALKS ADJACENT TO THE
PROPERTY.
AND WE WORK WITH METRO ON
TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
BUS STOPS ARE ACCESSIBLE.
I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN 2019 WAS
SEVERAL WAVES OF SNOWSTORMS AND
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF THE
REPEATED PLOWING OF THE STREETS.
WE WANT TO BE AWARE OF THOSE
AGAIN AND SEE HOW THE STORM
EVOLVES AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND
AS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE TRANSIT
IS ACCESSIBLE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SAM.
NOW WE WILL GO TO MIKE LYNN
BLOOM.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> Reporter: THE MAYOR AND SAM
ZIMBABWE BOTH MENTIONED THE
SNOW NETWORK WAS BEING REVISED
TO DEAL WITH THE DETOURS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AT STREET
LEVEL IN PARTICULAR?
ARE YOU GOING TO SEND A
CLEARING CREW OUT?
>> MIKE, THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS
THAT A LOT OF OUR WORK CREWS
USED TO USE THE BRIDGE TO
ACCESS BACK AND FORTH TO WEST
SEATTLE, THERE ARE REALLY NO
CHANGES IN TERMS OF THE GOLDEN
EMERALD ROUTES THAT WE DO PLOW.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE
ROUTES ARE NOW SEEING MORE
TRAFFIC WITH THE BRIDGE CLOSURE.
I WILL ALSO SAY, AS SOMEBODY
WHO LIVES IN WEST SEATTLE, I
KNOW THAT HIGHLAND PARK WEIGHT
CAN GET VERY SLICKLY AND
SLIPPERY.
SO PEOPLE MAY NOT BE USED TO
DRIVING.
BE CAREFUL ON THOSE ROUTES.
BE VERY CAREFUL ALONG HIGHLAND
PARKWAY.
PARTS OF WEST SEATTLE TEND TO
SEE THE SNOW AND ICE BEFORE
OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY BECAUSE
IT IS PRETTY HIGH. BUT NO MAJOR
CHANGES TO THE OVERALL ROUTE
STRUCTURE.
YOU SHOULD NOT SEE A CHANGE OF
WHERE WE ARE OPERATING.>> THANK
YOU SO MUCH CAM SAM. I WILL
TURN IT BACK TO SEATTLE MAYOR
JENNY A. DURKAN FOR CLOSING
REMARKS.>> THANK YOU ANTHONY .
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU
UPDATES.
HAVE PATIENCE DURING THE
SNOWSTORM.
WHEN SNOW FALLS IT COMES QUICKLY
AND CAN BE DISABLING.
IT DOES NOT USUALLY LAST TOO
LONG.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET TO
EVERY STREET AND CITY IN
SEATTLE AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE
THE EMERALD AND GOLD ROUTES OR
WHAT SAM ZIMBABWE CALLED THE
GREEN AND YELLOW ROUTES.
KNOW YOUR MAPS.
KNOW WHEN YOUR BUS IS COMING.
THE SCHOOLS ALREADY CLOSED AND
DOING SCHOOL REMOTELY SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE ALSO WORKING FROM
HOME.
SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES WE
USUALLY HAVE WILL NOT BE THE
SAME.
BUT TO ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE
MOVED HERE IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS, IF YOU THINK YOU ARE A
GREAT DRIVER IN THE SNOW, YOU
ARE NOT.
THE HILLS IN SEATTLE ARE AWFUL.
THE SNOW HAS GREAT IMPACT HERE
PARTICULARLY IF IT GETS WET
FIRST BEFORE FREEZING.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE,
STAY HOME.
STAY OUT OF YOUR CARS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH
FOOD AND WARMTH IN YOUR HOME IN
CASE THE POWER GOES OUT.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID
NOT REMIND YOU OF WHAT OUR
CHIEF DOES.
ALMOST EVERY COLD STORM WE SEE
TRAGEDIES WHERE PEOPLE EITHER
HAVE HEATING DEVICES IN THE
HOME THAT SHORTS OUT CAUSING
HOUSE FIRE OR THEY USE OPEN
FIRE BARBECUES AND THE LIKE
WHICH WILL CAUSE A CO2 PROBLEM.
PLEASE, DO NOT TRY TO HEAT YOUR
HOME WITH OPEN FIRES IN THE
HOUSE.
DO NOT OVERLOAD YOUR CIRCUITS.
STAY WARM.
STAY SAFE.
AND LOOK OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> THANK
YOU MAYOR DURKAN AND TO
EVERYONE WHO JOINED US TODAY.
AND THANK YOU FOR ROLLING WITH
THE PUNCHES ON THIS EXCITING
PRESS CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE.
TODAY WE WILL CONCLUDE THE
WINTER WEATHER PRESS CONFERENCE.
♪ ♪