Councilmember Patterson shares important information for the months ahead

It’s cold outside! With the rainy season here and winter just around the corner, I want to share information you and your families can use to prepare for the months ahead. In this e-newsletter, you will find helpful tips, as well as ways you can help those in need in South King County.

I also recently added a Resources section to my website. There you can find information about Metro Transit, emergency preparedness, jobs, property taxes, and links to your District 5 city or unincorporated community. This information is available to you 24 hours day, 7 days a week, so make sure to ‘bookmark’ the page in your web browser. You can also check my Facebook and Twitter pages for regular updates.

	Preparing for the flu and H1N1 (swine flu) Flu season is in full effect and it's important you take every precaution to keep yourself and others from getting sick. Washing your hands regularly is your first line of defense! Also, please stay home if you have the flu to avoid spreading germs. I know many of you also have specific questions about H1N1 and the H1N1 vaccine. You can find the most up to date information regarding H1N1, including information about vaccinations, on the King County-Seattle Public Health website. More tips on staying healthy here.

	Preparing for your commute (how to save money and prepare for the snow!) Do you know how much it costs you to drive to work? Metro Transit can now help you calculate your commute. You can see how much it costs you to commute to work and compare it to the cost of using public transit. Riding the bus is a great way to save money and catch up on the news during your commute! Metro is also working hard to prepare for winter storms. Watch for exciting changes coming to Metro online next month, which include new ways to keep connected when bad weather hits. Snow information for your local community is available here.

	Preparing for Flooding (Are you ready?) By now you are probably aware of the potential for flooding in the Green River Valley due to the diminished capacity of the Howard Hanson Dam. If you live or work in the Green River Valley, now is the time to make your personal preparedness plan. You should also purchase a battery powered radio to access critical information in the event of a flood. Check out National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) radios, which automatically turn on with emergency alerts! More general information about flood preparation is available here. You can find local flood alert information here.

	Helping your neighbors With the current recession and high unemployment rates, many families in South King County are in need of food and clothing. South King County is home to many wonderful organization that help residents locate basic necessities, like a warm meal and winter coat. If you would like to help, please visit a list of South King County food and clothing banks on my website.