Emergency preparedness can mean many things. Stocking up on canned foods, bottled water, wood for the fireplace, an aid kit and a blanket for the car are just some of the ways to be ready for a winter weather mayhem. But one source of help can come from local government agencies that have many resources for those seeking help or information during emergencies.
One of the best Web sites for the Puget Sound area for emergency resources is Take Winter by Storm at www.govlink.org/storm/default.asp. The Web site has updated information on school closures, road condition updates, human services and many other useful links and tip guides.
Staying informed on issues within the City of Kirkland can be a good way to finding extremely local information. The city has a 24-hour Emergency hot line at 425-587-3767.
“The hotline would be activated, assuming the phone lines are working, during an emergency or disaster,” said City of Kirkland Communications Director Marie Stake. “It would have current ‘what you need to know now’ information but the length of the message is limited. I believe we recorded on it during the Triple Threat Snow Storm in 2008 and mostly recorded road closures, priority road snow removal, and the city’s webpage.”
Residents can sign up for e-mail alerts and neighborhood e-bulletins on the Kirkland city Web site at www.ci.kirkland.wa.us, which is also updated with emergency information. The city also releases information during emergencies on its local cable station channels 21 and 75 on Comcast, and 31 and 32 on Verizon.
“Our emergency communications plan would encompass every way to communicate to the public,” said Stake.
The city also has electronic reader-board signs at Fire Stations 21, 22, 26 and at the North Kirkland Community center for disseminating information.
“Those should be installed by the end of the year and one will be installed at Fire Station 27 after annexation takes effect,” said Stake. “All will be connected to a generator and will have power in the case of a power outage.”
During the summer of 2009 the city opened some shelters for relief from a heat wave that come through the area.
“If the weather is very cool over an extended period the City will make sure that residents know that the Community Centers are open, heated and can act as a reprieve if they need to go someplace warm,” said City Emergency Manager Helen Ahrens-Byington. “Our message to the community is that they need to be prepared for any disaster, big or small and please remember to check on your neighbors. If it is an extended event or multiplied event, cold and power out, then the City will respond as needs are identified and resources are available.”
Ahrens-Byington said that the city is prepared for snow emergencies.
“The Public Works Department uses many types of equipment to clear snow,” she said. “There are seven vehicles that plow snow and/or spread sand, and two others that can blow snow. (We have) at least one deicer and two others that can load and or scrape.”
For general weather information, one of the best places to go is www.weather.gov/seattle for the National Weather Service.
The Regional Public Information Network Web site www.rpin.org is one of the best sources of comprehensive information during inclement weather. The Web site includes, traffic and road condition updates, public health and safety, information on airports and ferries and weather alerts.
For school closures visit http://www.schoolreport.org/ or www.lwsd.org.
Going beyond the city, the road services division of King County Department of Transportation has a road help line at 206-296-8100 or 800-527-6237, which are active 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Information can also be found at www.kingcounty.gov/roads for road closures and other emergency issues.
Bus riders can find route and schedule information for King County Metro Transit by visiting http://transit.metrokc.gov and by calling 206-553-3000 or 1-800-542-7876. For Sound Transit visit www.soundtransit.org to sign up for email alerts and call 888-889-6368 for rider information.
One area of travel that many people need information on are the passes. The Washington State Department of Transportation updates www.wsdot.wa.gov with pass conditions and also maintains a Mountain Pass Report at 800-695-7623.
During wind or snow storms, power outages can be reported to Puget Sound Energy by calling 1-888-225-5773 or going to www.PSE.com.
Kirkland residents can contact Waste Management Inc. at 800-592-9995 or visit www.wmnorthwest.com/weatherboard for garbage and recycling information during inclement weather.
