Preparing for winter storms: Part 1 of 2-part series

Remember the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006? If you were anywhere in or near Redmond, that night of Dec. 14-15, how could you not? Hurricane-force winds roared through the region, snapping tall trees and power lines and blocking many roadways. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power. Some were affected for a week or more. Stores and gas stations which managed to stay open were overwhelmed by panicked customers. It was surreal — and scary.

By Mary Stevens Decker • December 3, 2009 1:50 pm

Remember the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006?

If you were anywhere in or near Redmond, that night of Dec. 14-15, how could you not?

Hurricane-force winds roared through the region, snapping tall trees and power lines and blocking many roadways. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power. Some were affected for a week or more. Stores and gas stations which managed to stay open were overwhelmed by panicked customers. It was surreal — and scary.

Thankfully, a storm of that intensity is rare. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. In the first installment of this two-part series, here’s some vital information to help you prepare for the next winter wallop. Part one relates to both wind and snow/ice storms. Part two will offer more information on how the City of Redmond and King County will handle snow and ice removal.

BE READY, KEEP STEADY

King County, Puget Sound Energy, The City of Seattle and State Farm Insurance have created a “Take Winter by Storm” Web site,

http://www.govlink.org./storm to help citizens be proactive and provide them with resources about what to do during or after a storm.

The City of Redmond also has online disaster prepardessness information at http://www.redmond.gov/DisasterPrep.

Both the City of Redmond and King County will post emergency bulletins (regarding road closures, warming stations and so on) during severe weather incidents, at www.redmond.gov and www.kingcounty.gov.

But in a power outage, your computer likely won’t be up-and-running. Which brings us to the point of having emergency kits on-hand, at home, in your car and at your desk. A good way to store supplies is in a small backpack so you can “grab it and go,” as needed. Be sure to include the following:

• A battery-operated or crank-operated radio and extra batteries. By the way, the city now has its own radio station, Redmond City Radio, 1650 AM, which will broadcast emergency alerts.

• A flashlight and extra batteries. Candles are not recommended, because of fire hazards.

• One gallon of water per person, per day, for a minimum of three days. Five days is better and seven days is best.

• A three-day or better supply of non-perishable, nutrient-rich food such as canned meat or fish, peanut butter, energy bars or trail mix.

• A can opener.

• A first-aid kit.

• A whistle, to call for help.

• A dust mask to filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a “shelter-in-place.”

• Moist towelettes and plastic bags for sanitation.

• A wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.

• A cell phone with chargers (a car charger can be useful in a power outage).

• An out-of-area phone contact card because local phones might be down and you’ll want to be able to exchange messages if you are separated from your family or co-workers.

• Cash and coins, because ATMs and credit-card processing systems might be out of order.

• Sturdy shoes and work gloves in case you need to walk through or move debris.

• Warm clothing and blankets.

• Also, make it a habit to keep your car’s gas tank at least half-full.

DURING OR AFTER A WIND STORM

• During heavy winds, stay indoors and away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Keep shades or curtains closed.

• Use the telephone only for emergency phone calls.

• If you need immediate medical assistance, call 911 and be sure to let the dispatcher know if you are within City of Redmond limits or unincorporated King County.

• Don’t call 911 for petty reasons. During last December’s devastating snow and ice storms, a number of phone calls to 911 were to ask such questions as, “Do you know where there’s a Starbucks that is open?” This is not a joke. We honestly heard this complaint from the City of Redmond’s manager of emergency operations.

• To report a power outage or find out an estimated service restoration time, call Puget Sound Energy at 1-888-225-5773. TTY for speech/hearing-impaired customers is 1-800-962-9468. Relay service for speech/hearing-impaired individuals is 1-866-831-5161.

• If you suspect a gas leak (smell natural gas or hear a hissing sound), leave the building and call 911 before calling Puget Sound Energy.

• Never use generators or grills indoors. Carbon monoxide poisoning killed several people during the 2006 wind storm.

• To report road maintenance and traffic safety problems, such as downed signals or STOP signs, trees over roadways, etc., if you are within unincorporated King County, call their 24/7 Road Helpline at (206) 296-8100 or 1-800-527-6237 (1-800-KC-ROADS).

• To report road maintenance/traffic safety problems in the City of Redmond, call Public Works at (425) 556-2800 or the non-emergency number for Redmond Police, (425) 556-2500, unless of course, the problem is life-threatening. Then call 911.

• Another resource, to learn about road closures, is the Regional Public Information Network at http://www.rpin.org/rpinweb.