Video: How the city’s getting ready for winter windstorms

Mayor McGinn‘s been on the road all morning – including visits to West Seattle Elementary and West Seattle High School – our stories on those are coming up shortly, but first, an early-morning stop at Seattle City Light‘s control facility in Ballard. That’s of interest to WS because the topic was how the city – particularly its electric utility – is better prepared for winter windstorms than, oh, say, five years ago (anyone remember December 2006?). We tried to make it over to Ballard to cover it in person but – no exaggeration – almost-winter weather set us back (we walked out of the house this morning to a much-iced windshield and couldn’t find the scraper!). So here’s the Seattle Channel video. We’re betting they talked about the SCL mobile website we mentioned here yesterday; will add other toplines later, for anyone who can’t (or doesn’t have time to) check out the video.

ADDED 12:46 PM: Most of the toplines are in the official city news release that’s since been sent out; the mayor also noted that SCL has 50+ more lineworkers than at the time of Windstorm ’06 – read the news release (including family preparedness advice, which the mayor also stressed) after the jump:

With weather experts predicting another colder, wetter, La Nina winter, Mayor Mike McGinn encouraged people today to prepare for weather-related emergencies, outlined how residents can help the City respond to power outages and updated the public on how Seattle City Light is preparing for winter storms.

“Winter storms are part of living in the Pacific Northwest. We’re in this together – Seattle City Light and Seattle residents. It is essential that the City and Seattle residents are ready when storms come so we can limit how much they disrupt our lives and our economy,” McGinn said. “Our power utility is committed to responding to the public when outages occur. But we need your help. I encourage Seattle residents to think ahead and prepare for any possible power outages.”

There are several ways that residents can help their families and Seattle City Light respond to any power outages during the windy season:

Residents should always have a three-day supply of water and food that does not need to be cooked;
Have extra blankets on hand and close the doors to rooms you aren’t using to help keep warm;
Don’t bring your barbecue or any fossil fuel burning stove inside your house to cook when the power goes out – this could cause carbon monoxide poisoning;
A hand-crank radio and a hand-crank flashlight should be available – please don’t use open flames such as candles;
City Light is partner in the regional Take Winter By Storm effort – residents are encouraged to visit www.takewinterbystorm.org for more tips on being prepared for winter;
Call 206-684-7400 to report a power outage, to find out about reported outages and to asked to have call-back when your power is restored. The City needs your current phone number – both home and cell – in order to respond to your call.

Now is the time for all of us to prepare for winter storms. Start by building an emergency preparedness kit that contains at least three days of food and water for everyone in your home, including pets. Other items to add include a flashlight, radio, space blanket and warm clothes. Complete checklists are available at www.winterbystorm.org. Tips for what to do when the power goes out are available at http://seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_pout.htm.

In addition to helping customers prepare themselves for power outages, in the five years since the December 2006 windstorm that knocked out half of City Light’s distribution system, the utility has reorganized its storm response procedures: installed a computerized outage management system to coordinate restoration work and customer communications; and increased tree trimming to avoid outages from branches coming into contact with power lines. This year alone, City Light has cleared vegetation from about 450 miles of power lines.

Recent enhancements to the outage management system that City Light installed in 2010 provide automated estimates for restoration when an outage is reported; allow automated callbacks when power is restored for customers who want them; and improve response teams’ ability to gauge the impact of adding crews from other utilities to restoration work. Just this week, City Light launched a mobile version of key web pages for smartphone users, including the utility’s outage map.

“We learned a lot from the December 2006 windstorm,” Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said. “Reviews by our own staff, peer utility experts and outside consultants produced dozens of recommendations for improving customer service. We have put all of them into action and are better prepared to respond to a significant storm.”

The City of Seattle through City Light and Seattle Public Utilities is a partner in the regional Take Winter By Storm campaign to encourage preparedness throughout western Washington.

If you experience an outage, call (206) 684-7400 to report it.

The mayor said the city plans another media event to show off snow preparedness soon.

Separate from city efforts, we got a note today pointing out that with snow likely in mountain passes later this week, winter-driving tips might be handy, and a guide co-produced by the state and Les Schwab Tires is available online and at the new West Seattle store. They’ve produced a “how to install tire chains” video, too.

4 Replies to "Video: How the city's getting ready for winter windstorms"

  • sgs November 2, 2011 (6:32 pm)

    I saw a SDOT sanding truck near Alki Elementary on Admiral Way about 9:10 this Wednesday morning. I hope the city is not overreacting and sending out trucks when it’s just a bit cold. Perhaps it was out with Mayor McGinn.

    • WSB November 2, 2011 (7:14 pm)

      SGS – he would have been in Ballard right about then. But SDOT does send trucks around in the fall to practice routes – might have been the situation there – TR

  • Jay November 2, 2011 (7:53 pm)

    Interesting note re. the sanding truck. I thought I saw the telltale stripes from a deicing truck as I got on the bridge from delridge)this morning. That’s a common icy spot (elevated, in the shade).

  • lt fd November 3, 2011 (12:02 pm)

    When we fueled our rig yesterday at the city’s Charles St. maintenance facility, a group of truck drivers were checking out the snowplow and sanding equipment- attaching it to the trucks and ensuring normal operation of the equipment.
    .
    Check the gear out ahead of time, drive the routes, fix problems before they become bigger problems.

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