For the second straight winter, La Niña is expected to bring inclement weather to the region, including Redmond.

Weather forecasters warn of another colder and wetter winter than usual, with the possibility of snow and ice as early as this weekend.

Now is the time to stock up on supplies and generate a game plan if severe weather strikes, according to city and county officials.

“Don’t wait until you have to step out into that foot of snow with your high heels on,” said Janeen Olson, an Office of Emergency Management specialist for the City of Redmond. “Now is the time to prepare.”

Both the City of Redmond and King County are preparing to respond when roads get icy and the first flakes fall.

The common message to residents concerning disaster and storm preparedness is “Three Days, Three Ways,” which means residents should have a three-day emergency kits inside three places — the home, workplace and vehicle, according to Olson. The staple items in these kits should include food, water, warm clothes, sturdy shoes and a flashlight, along with other comfort items, Olson said.

Olson also said it is important to have a communication plan in place with family members before a storm strikes that could possibly knock out power and phone capabilities.

Three days is the recommended timeframe for stocking up on emergency supplies, but Lynn Miller, public information officer for the King County Office of Emergency Management, suggests residents aim to be self-sufficient for one or two weeks during larger scale emergencies.

“It’s important to get ready now before bad weather hits,” Miller said. “Don’t wait for the snow flakes, be ready to be self-sufficient for several days.”

CITY RESPONSE

It is also important to be aware of “who does what” and who will respond to your winter weather concerns, depending on where you live or work in the City of Redmond or unincorporated King County.

In event of a huge snow storm, crews from both the city and county will be placed on 12-hour shifts to provide around-the-clock response to roads.

The City of Redmond uses four large plows, three large sanders, two de-icer applicators and a smaller plow and sander to make sure the roads are safer to navigate, according to Robin Brown, street operations supervisor for the City of Redmond.

Brown said the city uses combinations of sand and Calcium Chloride with Boost (CCB) — a de-icing solution made of molasses, beet juice and calcium chloride — as a way to combat and prevent icy conditions. Salt is applied when unusually extreme conditions require extra treatment, Brown said.

Main arterials, such as Redmond Way, West Lake Sammamish Parkway and 148th Avenue Northeast, along with hilly roads like Union Hill Road and 166th Avenue Northeast will be the first roads plowed, according to Brown. Streets near schools and hospitals will also receive top priority, Brown said. The city’s snow and ice removal routes can be found at www.redmond.gov/snowice.

When freezing conditions are expected, crews will apply CCB as a preventative measure to priority areas, including the city’s main roads, bridge decks, hills, curves and shady areas, Brown said. Depending on weather reports, the rest of the arterial plow routes will receive preventative treatment as well.

The city posts emergency updates on it website, www.redmond.gov and its radio station 1650 AM.

New this winter, the city will be posting road condition updates via Twitter: @CityOfRedmond #redmondalert

The city has also coordinated with King County Metro on bus routes affected by weather problems, Brown said. Metro’s snow and ice guide is available at metro.kingcounty.gov/up/rr/snow.html or residents can follow Metro Transit on Twitter at @kcmetrobus.

COUNTY RESPONSE

The county, which is responsible for about 1,300 miles of snow routes, is also preparing for storm response with de-icing materials, snow plows and sanders. But due to budget cuts, the county’s Road Services Division will have fewer resources to clear those roads, according to Rochelle Ogershok, spokesperson for the King County Department of Transportation. These reductions mean some roads will be plowed and sanded less often depending on weather conditions, Ogershok said. Like the city, the county will make the main arterials, such as Union Hill, Novelty Hill and Avondale roads, its first priority, along with streets near schools and hospitals.

During minor snow events centralized to one area, the county road division will shift crews from non-affected areas of the county to help keep roads clear. But during a significant regional snowstorm, the shifting of county forces may not be possible.

For county road alerts, click here.

That’s why it is important for each resident to follow the forecast carefully and have an emergency plan in place, Ogershok said.

As for bus riders, the county suggests riders do some “snow work” before the first flakes fall. Residents can call (206) 553-3000 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/transportation/kcdot to check out all of Metro’s online resources. The county advises riders to sing up for transit alerts, know the snow routing for buses they ride most often and plan for longer travel times.

“Our customers need to expect and prepare for buses that are on snow routes, traveling at slower speeds and encountering traffic delays along the way,” said Metro general manager Kevin Desmond. “That is why bus riders need to prepare in advance for winter travel just like we do.”