Snow response review: Councilmember’s post-briefings view

(one of many photos we received during Snowstorm ’08)
The Seattle City Council has another post-snowstorm discussion coming up next Monday morning, after more than five hours of briefings this past Monday and Tuesday. Since snow-related trouble hit West Seattle particularly hard, from missing buses to missed trash pickups, it’s not surprising that some of the toughest questions at those briefings came from WS-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. Before memories of those first two briefings faded too far away, we e-mailed to ask him about any reflections on what he heard – read on to see what he sent back:

My impressions are preliminary and it will take further investigation to fully understand all that happened. But it appears that communication completely broke down between Metro and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) because of poor planning and lack of adequate communication equipment in both agencies. Metro is completely dependent upon the Seattle roads maintained by SDOT. My question is if Kevin Desmond, the head of Metro, knew that his staff was not getting calls answered by SDOT, did he inform Grace Crunican, the head of SDOT, and ask for her help?

There may be a need in the future, because of emergency or extreme conditions, that public transportation will be required to move large numbers of people. It appears that Metro is not prepared for such emergencies. This has to be remedied and the City Council and the County Council must insist on coordination and reform and improvement in both departments. Metro is dependent upon several City departments such as SDOT and the Seattle Police Department to make sure the roads are cleared, safe or that there are alternate routes. Good coordination and planning must begin as soon as possible.

Also, it appears that neither SDOT nor Metro leadership knew what was actually occurring on the streets i.e. whether they were being plowed or cleared or how the buses were functioning. (Tuesday) some citizens testified that the roads that SDOT Director Grace Crunican thought were plowed had not been plowed. We heard from citizens that Metro’s “on-line route status updates” on their adverse weather page were incorrect. Metro could not be relied upon for correct information. It appears that in many if not most cases drivers and passengers were left to fend for themselves.

The snow and ice route map provided by SDOT … does not designate any street west of California Avenue SW as a snow or ice route. I believe that there should be several snow or ice routes west of California Avenue and that should be remedied by the SDOT.

My impression is that the City’s Human Services Department did a good job sheltering and feeding people during this time. Shelters may have been crowded but no one was turned away. City Light was much better prepared and performed much better this time than two years ago following the December windstorm.

Essentially the City of Seattle and the King County were close to paralysis due to impassable roads. Clearly the City was not properly prepared for the snowstorm and as hard as the City employees worked, the City did not do an adequate job with the equipment or supplies on hand.

There is a major role for the public and the news media such as the local blogs in providing real time information as to what is happening. The City should determine how to engage the public and use information coming from the neighborhoods much as it did with the ham radio operations for information and communication.

Most private property owners, whether residential or commercial, did not do a good job of clearing the sidewalks in front of their properties, which they are required to do. This failure on the public’s part greatly compounded the difficulty in getting around. Everyone should have a snow shovel even if it is needed only once every ten years. If someone is too frail to shovel his or her sidewalk then able-bodied neighbors should help without being asked. We must engage the public during these times.

Tom Rasmussen

ScottA January 9, 2009 (7:53 am)

Realistically when snow hits I really think we need to work on maintaining only a handful of trunk line bus routes. I wouldn’t even bother printing “snow routes” for most routes just devote the fleet to about 4 major north-south lines and a few east-west routes that aren’t too hilly (are there any?). People should expect to walk a half mile or maybe more but be confident that if they can get to Aurora Ave (for example) there will be a functional bus). If Metro goes into “snow mode” there needs to be a simple and achievable service goal that sets expectations so riders don’t wait hours for a bus that will never come.
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The City Council needs to keep “earthquake” in the forefront of their minds when reviewing recent events.

AlkiResident January 9, 2009 (8:54 am)

I like what Tom says here. I hope some of these pieces are remedied before the next major storm where these pieces are needed. One thing about shoveling sidewalks, East Coasters are used to this because they are required to shovel within a certain amount of time or get fined. *BUT*, there is one difference, they also salt. For those of you who may have gone out on walks, you know how dangerous it was to walk on shoveled sidewalks where the ice layer was too slippery to be safe for passage. If the city makes a big deal about residents shoveling and maintaining their own sidewalks, how about adding some salt?

Mr. JT January 9, 2009 (8:58 am)

This picture is the perfect representation of leadership in this city.. Right in the ditch !

kathy January 9, 2009 (9:11 am)

I think this is a fair and realistic assessment of the situation – and includes some remedies. Property owners could have participated more in clearing snow- especially the store owners. I was amazed at how difficult it was to get into stores. I didn’t have a snow shovel (but will be getting one) but was able to clear snow on my sidewalk with the help of a rake, broom and de-icer.

Kat January 9, 2009 (9:27 am)

I must admit, I kind of joked with my husband for going out and shoveling the walk every day. He’s from the midwest. “It’s just what you do!” he’d reply. However, we ran out of salt very quickly. De-icer was nowhere to be found for a week! So, despite best efforts and best intentions, our walk actually became more hazardous.

Question, where did all of the de-icer go? I walked Highland Park for blocks and blocks during the storm and saw only 3-4 shoveled walks. I agree that most people simply don’t know that it is their duty.

I began walking in the street to avoid the 2+ ft. snow drifts. Considering the impossibility of driving the neighborhood streets, it was actually very safe.

Ah well. I am rambling now. Before I go though, shout-out to the poster that let me know about de-icer becoming available at the Admiral Safeway! Thanks!

E.Twin January 9, 2009 (10:51 am)

East coaster here…when de-icer was unavailable, we used epsom salt and it worked quite nicely.

datamuse January 9, 2009 (11:12 am)

Another east-coaster here…we shoveled our walk, our driveway, the alley in front of our driveway (which is also part of our property), and a good chunk of the rest of the alley because there’s a sheer drop-off on one side of it and when the resident along that stretch didn’t shovel, we decided to do it in order to keep anyone’s car from ending up in the apartment complex down the hill.
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We also salted. If you have nothing else, plain old table salt works just fine.
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Additionally, we discovered that a roofing shovel (we have one after the events of Windocalypse 2006, when we wound up replacing a large number of shingles that the wind tore off) works really, really well for breaking up packed snow and ice. We lent ours to our neighbors and they said it made clearing the alleyway much easier.

AlC January 9, 2009 (11:16 am)

My expectations are low for snow events given that we don’t get snow often and we don’t need to have extra plows sitting around not being used. But minimum expectation is for published snow routes to be cleared (the first plow was sighted at 9:30 the next day, I believe). Then residents and Metro can plan accordingly. Otherwise adding more snow routes will just be lines on the map.

AlkiRagdoll January 9, 2009 (12:32 pm)

I agree with his assessment other than in a few areas. His comments are one of hte few that do make since since Snowmare 08 started. However, either he is not aware of reality on shovels or omitted that they are not available. I have been trying to get a show shovel for quite a while…. none to be purchased. I almost brought one back from NJ at Christmas, as there were tons there, even in the NJ grocery stores (unfortunately it would not fit in the overhead bin ). I have fallen back on using a broom for the last few years — and have now broken three just this winter. On 1-3-09 the snow was so heavy I broke the one I purchased on 12-21 after walking from Alki to True Value in the Junction to get it. I have a garden shovel, but am not strong enough to lift it covered with wet snow. I couldnt carry salt and a broom…. so the sidewalk just had to wait.
From an emergency preparedness… seems like in icy conditions, residents should be able to walk or slide DOWN to that wonderful flat street – Alki/Harbor rather than walk UP to California (as someone else noted). Similarly, if the beach were not accessable in another emergency, the upper routes must be maintained west of California. Seems like common sense went out the window.

datamuse January 9, 2009 (12:44 pm)

The best time to buy snow shovels is in the summer, from what I can tell. Home Depot calls them “grain shovels” for some reason, but they handle snow just as well. :D

d January 9, 2009 (2:30 pm)

I was in McLendon’s yesterday. Rows and rows of grey and red snow shovels at $12/$13 a pop.

WSB January 9, 2009 (2:35 pm)

That’s such good info, “d,” I sent it out on Twitter. Buy now BEFORE next Snowpocalypse!

westside January 9, 2009 (3:09 pm)

i think it’s interesting that people keep thinking that the government needs to provide them with something like salt to keep their own sidewalks clean. as stated here, table salt will work fine. in the event of a major emergency, you and your neighbors must be prepared – this was a dress rehearsal.

Michael January 9, 2009 (3:11 pm)

Rasmussen has probably the most level-headed response possible.
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In short, we’re all kind of to blame. But seeing as this kind of thing happens one week every decade, that’s probably to be expected.

MAS January 9, 2009 (3:23 pm)

WRT grain shovels and snow shovels… Grain shovels are generally made from steel, which will quickly get cold and the snow will just start sticking to the shovel, which makes the whole process harder.

Actual snow shovels are made from aluminum, which gets cold even more quickly, but also transmits heat from the shoveling (compression of the ice) back to the snow and therefore releases the snow without as much sticking to it. They are also MUCH lighter, so make for easier shoveling.

Note that I haven’t actually studied the thermodynamics of snow shovels, so I may have the causation wrong, but I’ve shoveled with both types and can attest to the results.

datamuse January 9, 2009 (4:54 pm)

My quasi-grain shovel is plastic, actually. Weighs about as much as aluminum and snow doesn’t stick to it.

AlkiRagdoll January 9, 2009 (5:57 pm)

Ok, now for a really stupid question — I know where Home Depot is, where True Value is, and where Eagle is,…. where is McLeondons? I’m getting a grain shovel tonight if they are open.