Contact:
Allison Tabiando Heather Kelly
Public Works Emergency Management
Allison.Tabiando@snoco.org Heather.Kelly@snoco.org
425-388-3126 425-388-5065
2016 Flood, Wind, Snow and Ice Resources for Snohomish County Residents
Safety reminders and resources for fall and winter weather
EVERETT, Wash., October 13, 2016 – The autumn and winter seasons mean it’s time for Snohomish County residents and commuters to be prepared for inclement weather. With the potential of floods, windstorms, snow or ice, the county’s departments of Emergency Management (DEM) and Public Works offer the following weather safety tips and resources.
Resources:
- Snohomish County emergency resources overview: Visit the Emergency Information webpage for an overview of information and status updates on Snohomish County road closures, snow and ice road priorities, and flood warnings. Or call 425-388-7500 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) for road closure inquiries and updates.
- Notifications: Sign-up to receive notifications of emergencies from the DEM via AlertSense.
- Weather: Stay up-to-date on current weather forecasts.
- Flood guide: The 2016 annual Flood Guide provides current references and helpful information on avoiding, preparing, and coping with floods. The guide was mailed to floodplain area residents earlier this month and is also being distributed for pick up at city halls and libraries near flood prone areas, and the offices of DEM, Planning and Development Services, and Public Works’ Surface Water Management.
- Snow and ice response: Public Works is responsible for maintaining approximately 1,556 miles of county roads. To provide an optimum level of service across the vast area during snow and ice events, routes have been designated by priority. A map and list of the priority roads is available on the Road Conditions webpage.
- Power outages and power lines: Call Snohomish County PUD at 425-783-1001 to report a power outage or downed power lines.
- State routes and highways: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) maintains all state routes and highways. Call 511 or visit their website for additional information.
- Life threatening emergencies: For all life threatening emergencies, call 911.
- Non-life threatening emergencies: If you have a non-emergency, like non-life threatening storm related issues or emergency services personnel are needed but there is no immediate danger to life or property, please use one of the numbers below:
- For Brier, Edmonds, Woodway, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, and Mukilteo dial: 425-775-3000.
- For the rest of Snohomish County, dial 425-407-3999.
Safety tips and reminders:
- Preparedness kit: Have a personal preparedness kit ready to go. If you have a car, keep it in your vehicle so it’s available both at home and while you’re on the road. The kit should include water, food, a first aid kit, and a flashlight. Additional items to include are available at www.Ready.gov.
- Flooding: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.” – Flood waters can be deceiving in terms of their depth and how quickly they move. It is not safe to walk or drive through flood waters since as little as six inches of water can cause unstable footing, and two feet of water can cause a car to be swept away.
- Snowplows and sanders: Give snowplows plenty of room to work. Do not tailgate and if you must pass, take extreme caution and beware of the displaced snow and ice and the sand when the sander is on. Also, remove your vehicle if parked on the street of a major arterial or emergency route.
- Road closures: Always obey road closed signs.
- Drainage: Keep drainage inlets near your home clear of leaves and debris during the winter months.
- Downed power lines: Stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines and do not drive over them.
Follow the DEM and Snohomish County on Twitter and like Snohomish County on Facebook for the most up-to-date information during an emergency.
About Snohomish County Public Works
The Snohomish County Public Works Department employs approximately 600 staff members that develop and maintain county roads; control and manage surface water quantity, quality, and fish habitats; and oversee the recycling and disposal of solid waste. The department’s main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks.
About the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management
The Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) partners with jurisdictions and agencies throughout the county to assess, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. DEM’s staff members ensure our emergency management plans are up to date and, when necessary, activate the County’s Emergency Coordination Center. For more information about DEM, visit http://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/EmergencyManagement.