Seattle Fire Department: Winter Weather – Personal Preparedness

Seattle WA

21 January, 2022

8:09 PM

Description

Press release from the Seattle Fire Department : Carrie Brazil January 21, 2022 Image courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department According to the Seattle Office of Emergency Management, snow and ice are identified as Seattle's second top hazards. We know winter weather in Western Washington can be unpredictable. In December 2021, 4"-9" inches of snow fell in the Seattle Metro area followed by several consecutive days of low temps. This caused dangerous road conditions, delays to or cancellation of services, downed powerlines, business closures and more. We also experienced many days of subsequent heavy rain resulting in urban flooding and landslides. Read about Seattle Fire Departments' response to the Jan. 7, 2022 landslide in Magnolia: https://fireline.seattle.gov/2022/01/07/landslide-in-magnolia-neighborhood/. Image courtesy of the Seattle OEM It is important to start to prepare for winter weather well in advance to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Here are some basic emergency preparedness tips to keep in mind: Image courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department If you are not able to stay home and off the roads, consider these tips for increasing your safety. Public Transportation: If you rely on public transportation to get around the city, it is important to plan for alternative routes and other transportation options during snow and icy weather. Winter weather can cause public transportation delays or cancellations. King County Metro keeps you up to date through their transit alerts: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/transportation/metro/alerts-updates.aspx Driving and Road Safety: Watch for downed power lines:Calls to 911 about downed power lines increase during snow and windstorms. If you see one, follow these safety tips. This press release was produced by the Seattle Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.