Dear Neighbor:

Seattle Public Utilities has requested we use our e-mail lists to notify Seattle residents of a fast-moving cold front with the possibility of snow and cold weather into the teens.

SPU would like residents to know the following:

Here is a list of tips that can help prevent costly damage and repairs to your home—and keep you safe on the streets:

• Prepare your water pipes for cold weather, ahead of time. Shut off outside faucets, drain the water and protect them by insulating them with rags or foam covers. Pipes in exposed or unheated areas (attics, basements and garages) should be wrapped with tape and insulating materials, available at local hardware stores. Drain and remove all outdoor hoses, and shut off and drain in-ground sprinkler systems.

• Once it drops below freezing, protect indoor sink pipes that are against exterior walls, by opening under-sink cabinet doors, allowing heat to circulate. During severe cold, allow the faucet farthest from your front door to slowly drip cold water. Set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit, day or night (even if you are away).

• Do not leave water running in unoccupied buildings.

• Please don't use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes!

• If a water pipe breaks, immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop excessive flooding. If you cannot turn off the main shut-off valve, SPU customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.

• In the event of snow, residents are asked to help keep street drains clear by removing snow and other debris — if it can be done safely. As the snow melts, blockages in the gutters or drains will hinder runoff, increase the risk of flooding, and make the morning commute more difficult.

• If an inlet or street drain appears to be blocked by snow or debris, try to safely clear a channel to provide a path for the runoff. If the drain cannot be cleared, or if the cause of the blockage or flooding is uncertain, call Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) at (206) 386-1800.

Heavy rain following closely after heavy snowfall can increase the chance of landslides due to soil saturation that reduces slope stability. Property owners on slopes are advised to clear both drains on their buildings and storm drains near their property. If a landslide damages your property and you have an immediate concern for your safety, leave the premises and call 9-1-1.

Seattle property owners with structures affected by or endangered by a landslide may contact the Department of Planning and Development at 206-684-7899, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a rapid evaluation of damage. Such evaluations are not meant to provide a comprehensive assessment, which will need to be completed by a private structural or geotechnical engineer.

Learn more at http://www.seattle.gov/util/


SEATTLE CITY LIGHT PREPARES FOR WINTER STORM, ASKS CUSTOMERS TO GET READY TOO!
National Weather Service Forecasts Snow and Low Temperatures This Weekend

SEATTLE - Seattle City Light is preparing its crews for a winter storm that is expected to bring rain, snow, wind and cold temperatures to the Puget Sound area through the weekend. And the utility is asking its customers to prepare themselves and their families.

“Living in the Pacific Northwest means you need to be ready for winter storms,” Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said. “Our crews are ready so that if this storm causes any outages, we can restore power as soon as possible. Even so, we want our customers to be ready in the event an outage cannot be fixed quickly.”

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch today with a forecast for rain Friday turning to snow as temperatures drop below freezing through the weekend. Several inches of snow could fall in the Seattle area.

City Light has sufficient crews on standby and supplies stocked to respond to outages that could accompany the storm. Some utility trucks will be fitted with tire chains for the weekend so they will be better able to navigate snowy streets if necessary. Additionally, City Light has enough generating capacity to meet the rise in electricity demand as temperatures drop.

In the event of a large-scale outage, residents should be ready to fend for themselves for at least three days.

One of the best steps is to assemble an emergency kit with at least three days of food and water for each person in the family and any family pets. Other items to include are a hand-crank or battery-operated flashlight and radio, fresh batteries, a survival blanket, a first aid kit, pocket tissues and hand sanitizer wipes. For a complete list of what to include, please visit www.govlink.org/3days3ways.

City Light also reminds people that barbecue grills and emergency generators should never be operated indoors. Doing so could cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. If you lose power, dress in layers to stay warm and seal up drafty windows and doors to slow the loss of heat in your home.