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

By Mary Stevens Decker • December 11, 2009 1:51 pm
Katherine Ganter/Reporter Newspapers Jeff Chandler shovels snow from the walkway at a business near NE 80th Street and 166th Avenue NE during last December's snow storm.
Katherine Ganter/Reporter Newspapers Jeff Chandler shovels snow from the walkway at a business near NE 80th Street and 166th Avenue NE during last December's snow storm.

The Dec. 4 issue of the Redmond Reporter featured part one of a two-part series about winter weather emergencies and where to turn for assistance.

We’ve given you a list of preparedness pointers and hope you are doing your homework — such as stocking up on food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights and batteries. A three-day supply should be the minimum. Five days is better and seven days is best, according to experts in the City of Redmond’s office of emergency management.

If that seems excessive, remember last December’s dumping of heavy snow that quickly turned to ice. Treacherous road conditions left many Redmond residents housebound for several days.

When the next storm hits, it’s important to recognize that the City of Redmond Street Department maintains streets only within city limits. If you live or work in an unincorporated area (outside Redmond city limits), the King County Department of Transportation/Road Services Division is the agency responsible for maintaining those streets. To get the services you need, be sure to call the proper authorities.

WITHIN CITY OF REDMOND

Information about the City of Redmond’s snow and ice removal plans is available on the city’s Web site here.

A map showing snow and ice removal routes in the city can be downloaded from that site. Notice that in the Overlake area, the City of Redmond is responsible for the east side of 148th Avenue Northeast and the City of Bellevue is responsible for the west side of 148th Avenue Northeast.

The City of Redmond uses three 5-yard dump trucks with large plows and sanders; a one-ton truck with a small plow and deicer unit; traction sand laid down with plowing; and a new environmentally friendly product called Geomelt to melt snow and ice. The main ingredients of Geomelt are Calcium Chloride, de-sugared molasses and water. The product does not cause corrosion and will not harm streams, according to assistant public works director Ron Grant.

Crews from Redmond Public Works will work extra hours as needed to maintain roads. Priorities for snow and ice removal are as follows:

1) Areas near hospitals and schools.

2) Arterials leading in and out of Redmond.

3) Arterials located on hills within Redmond.

4) All other arterials within Redmond.

For questions about snow and ice removal, the phone number for Redmond Public Works Operations is (425) 556-2800. Not every residential area can be plowed or sanded because of limited resources. Redmond Police will respond to accidents or hazards as needed. In an emergency, call 911. If the problem is not urgent, the number for Redmond Police is (425) 556-2500.

Also, use discretion when venturing out in snowy/icy weather. It’s better to avoid driving unless you must. Updates about weather and road conditions will be available on the city’s Web site, www.redmond.gov and Redmond Community Radio, 1650 AM.

WITHIN KING COUNTY

The King County Road Services Division handles snow and ice removals on arterials and other roads in unincorporated King County with 45 pieces of equipment, including plows, sanders, graders and anti-icers.

The Road Division uses the safest and most cost-effective anti-icing products available and from November through March, crews work 12-hour shifts to maintain round-the-clock operations. They also patrol unincorporated areas in pre-dawn hours to prepare roads for morning commutes.

To learn about county and state road closures, click here.

To check on the status of Metro Transit bus service, click here.

To monitor traffic cameras in King County, click here.

If you need maintenance on a King County road, call the 24/7 helpline at (206) 296-8100 or 1-800-527-6273. The speech/hearing impaired can call (206) 296-6590.

Winter weather advice from King County includes allowing ample time to reach your destination, equipping your vehicle with all-season tires and carrying tire chains. If you must abandon your vehicle, park it clear of travel lanes to allow maintenance trucks to get through Cars left in travel lanes will be impounded.

Dress for the weather in case you get stranded and have to walk. Use caution when following a snow plow or sander, allowing at least two car lengths’ distance.

For more information, visit the Take Winter by Storm Web site.