King County prepared for winter blast- King County

Dec. 16, 2008

King County prepared for winter blast

Residents and families urged to take health and emergency precautions

King County government is gearing up to respond to area road, transit and emergency management needs as forecasters warn of a coming winter storm that is expected to bring snow, ice and sustained cold temperatures on Wednesday.

Residents are urged to plan how they will protect and provide for themselves, their family and pets facing this week's anticipated cold weather hazards and other emergency or disaster situations.

In anticipation of the storm, the King County Road Services Division, which has been operating around-the-clock since Saturday, is applying de-icer to major arterials, bridges and arterials located on steep hills. The division will also remain on 24-hour operations to plow and sand.

King County Metro Transit is also planning on chaining most of its buses for the Wednesday morning commute, so service could be delayed by weather conditions throughout the day - particularly in outlying areas of East and Southeast King County. Depending on the weather, Metro may have to switch to snow routes in some locations with little notice. To check for reroutes due to adverse weather, check Metro Online, or call Metro's Customer Information Office at 206-553-3000.

Here are some tips to ease the transition through this week's cold snap.

Dress warmly and eat right
Make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
Wear several layers of loose fitting, light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Most of your body heat is lost through your head, so wear a warm, woolen hat. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves.
Be sure to eat regularly. Food provides calories that maintain body heat.
Be careful not to overexert yourself when shoveling snow or other physical activity. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water.

Avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning

Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home. Downloadable picture warnings in 13 languages are available online.

Watch out for hypothermia

Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia--slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Get medical help immediately if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia.
Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.

Have and practice a family disaster plan. Your plan should include:

A meeting place within easy walking distance where family members can meet in case you get separated or need to evacuate.
An out of area contact, such as friend or extended family member, that each of you will call to say you are safe and where you are, so they can share this information with other family members who call.
An emergency supply kit with enough supplies to last a minimum of three days for each member of your family. Include extra blankets and needed medications.

Additional precautions

Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
Watch your footing on surfaces that may be icy and slick, and wear shoes that provide traction.
Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
Prepare for your pets. If you cannot bring them indoors, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure that they have access to unfrozen drinking water.
Preplan alternate transportation routes to and from work and other important destinations.
Have a battery powered radio and extra batteries on hand to stay informed should you lose power.
Know how to use 9-1-1 responsibly. Only call 9-1-1 if you need immediate emergency assistance from police, fire or emergency medical personnel.

The Duty Officer for King County Emergency Management is actively monitoring and coordinating with county departments and our regional partners to address any impacts and support needs that arise as a result of cold weather and snow.

For a checklist of items to include in an emergency supply kit and other helpful information for emergency preparation, visit www.3days3ways.org.

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Excellence in Government Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims print Dec. 16, 2008 King County prepared for winter blast Residents and families urged to take health and emergency precautions King County government is gearing up to respond to area road, transit and emergency management needs as forecasters warn of a coming winter storm that is expected to bring snow, ice and sustained cold temperatures on Wednesday. Residents are urged to plan how they will protect and provide for themselves, their family and pets facing this week's anticipated cold weather hazards and other emergency or disaster situations. In anticipation of the storm, the King County Road Services Division, which has been operating around-the-clock since Saturday, is applying de-icer to major arterials, bridges and arterials located on steep hills. The division will also remain on 24-hour operations to plow and sand. King County Metro Transit is also planning on chaining most of its buses for the Wednesday morning commute, so service could be delayed by weather conditions throughout the day - particularly in outlying areas of East and Southeast King County. Depending on the weather, Metro may have to switch to snow routes in some locations with little notice. To check for reroutes due to adverse weather, check Metro Online, or call Metro's Customer Information Office at 206-553-3000. Here are some tips to ease the transition through this week's cold snap. Dress warmly and eat right Make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low. Wear several layers of loose fitting, light weight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Most of your body heat is lost through your head, so wear a warm, woolen hat. Mittens will keep your hands warmer than gloves. Be sure to eat regularly. Food provides calories that maintain body heat. Be careful not to overexert yourself when shoveling snow or other physical activity. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. Avoid deadly carbon monoxide poisoning Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home. Downloadable picture warnings in 13 languages are available online. Watch out for hypothermia Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia--slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Get medical help immediately if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia. Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages if you expect you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite. Have and practice a family disaster plan. Your plan should include: A meeting place within easy walking distance where family members can meet in case you get separated or need to evacuate. An out of area contact, such as friend or extended family member, that each of you will call to say you are safe and where you are, so they can share this information with other family members who call. An emergency supply kit with enough supplies to last a minimum of three days for each member of your family. Include extra blankets and needed medications. Additional precautions Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe. Watch your footing on surfaces that may be icy and slick, and wear shoes that provide traction. Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts). Prepare for your pets. If you cannot bring them indoors, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure that they have access to unfrozen drinking water. Preplan alternate transportation routes to and from work and other important destinations. Have a battery powered radio and extra batteries on hand to stay informed should you lose power. Know how to use 9-1-1 responsibly. Only call 9-1-1 if you need immediate emergency assistance from police, fire or emergency medical personnel. The Duty Officer for King County Emergency Management is actively monitoring and coordinating with county departments and our regional partners to address any impacts and support needs that arise as a result of cold weather and snow. For a checklist of items to include in an emergency supply kit and other helpful information for emergency preparation, visit www.3days3ways.org.
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	Updated: Dec. 16, 2008