Governor declares state of emergency as ice storm creates treacherous conditions
Freezing rain in the Seattle area has created treacherous conditions for drivers and temporarily closed all runways at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Seattle Times staff reporter
MIKE SIEGEL / THE SEATTLE TIMES
A utility crew from Portland, hired to deal with power outages in the Puget Sound area, works to repair a power line early this morning that was severed by falling trees Wednesday night.
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Driving in winter conditions
• Keep headlights on.• Slow down. If possible, avoid driving when roads are icy.
• Even when roads are dry, watch out for icy bridges.
• Stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) back from maintenance vehicles and plows, and don't pass them on the right.
• Don't use cruise control or overdrive in freezing weather.
• Don't pump anti-lock brakes to stop.
• Clear snow and ice from car surfaces before driving.
• Keep safety equipment, spare parts, food and water in the car.
• More winter driving tips at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter/
Outages
• Have a power-outage kit that includes flashlights and batteries, glow-in-the-dark sticks, a lantern, matches, a wind-up clock, a portable radio, a Mylar blanket and a can opener.• To avoid deadly carbon-monoxide poisoning, keep generators outdoors when they're running. Make sure the exhaust is not near a window or other opening to the home. Keep the exhaust and muffler away from combustible material.
• Never burn charcoal indoors. Charcoal produces toxic fumes that can kill quickly.
• Use hot water sparingly.
• Turn off most electrical devices, and unplug sensitive electrical equipment. Leave a light switched on, however, so you'll know when the power returns.
• Never handle or approach a downed power line.
• Dress in layers and cover your head. Close off unused rooms. Close drapes to prevent drafts.
• Use only space heaters designed for the indoors. Even those need to be adequately vented to avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning. Keep space heaters away from curtains and clothing. Always turn off the heaters before going to bed or leaving home.
• Get fresh air and get help right away if you feel sick or dizzy while using a generator or space heater. Fatigue, nausea or sleepiness are signs of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
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Gov. Chris Gregoire declared a state of emergency in Washington this morning as an ice storm slammed the Puget Sound area, making roads treacherous and leaving an estimated 120,000 customers in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties without power, a number that climbed through the morning as ice-laden branches and trees hit power lines.
One man was killed as a tree fell on him as he was backing his all-terrain vehicle out of shed in the Issaquah area this morning. Throughout the region, streets and highways were slick. All three runways at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were closed in the early morning. Nearly all major school districts in the area were closed.
Relief may not come soon. An "ice storm warning" from the Weather Service, originally to end at noon Thursday, was extended to 2 p.m. in what meteorologist Jeff Michalski said is the Seattle area's first ice storm since December 1996.
Snow and freezing rain continued to fall throughout the region into late morning. Conditions were expected to remain difficult through the afternoon commuting hours. Although precipitation is forecast to taper off, Michalski said temperatures in Seattle may remain below freezing until well into Thursday evening.
Warmer air is on the way from the south, but moving slowly. At 10 a.m., when the Sea-Tac temperature was at 28 degrees, Hoquiam had 33 and Kelso had 36, but Bellingham was still at 19.
A dangerous layer of ice is created as warm, moist air is brings rainfall, but cold air near the surface causes it to freeze as it hits the ground.
Freezing rain also builds up on tree limbs, causing them to sag, snap and fall — the key cause of the area's power outages.
Gregoire, in a news release, said the declaration of a state of emergency would, among other things, "ensure delivery of valuable dairy products across Washington state."
The act waives hours of service for drivers of trucks hauling intrastate bulk milk shipments from farms to dairy-processing facilities. It also enables the state to activate the Washington National Guard and free up state agencies "to take extraordinary steps to help local jurisdictions during the current winter storm."
At midmorning, as many as 90,000 customers of Puget Sound Energy were without electrical service, and more outages were likely, according to a PSE spokesman.
In the Tacoma area, an estimated 25,000 customers were without power. Snohomish County PUD reported 4,000 without power.
Snohomish County PUD spokesman Mike Thorne said outages there were scattered around the county, mostly in rural areas. Most were caused when falling trees or branches, heavy with snow, hit power lines.
Slick roads were creating hazards throughout the area. Early Thursday, three lanes of northbound Interstate 5 near I-405 in Snohomish County were closed by an overturned semi.
In Seattle, Transportation Department trucks were out spreading salt and de-icer.
In Oregon, rising water from heavy rains swept a car carrying at least two people into an overflowing creek in the Willamette Valley community of Albany. The two people escaped and authorities searched for others who might have been in the car, fire officials said. Early reports indicated that a child was missing, but fire officials said there were too many conflicting accounts be sure. A search was suspended until daylight.
Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com Material from The Associated Press is included in this report end quote from:
Seattle Times local News January 19th 2012
One man was killed as a tree fell on him as he was backing his all-terrain vehicle out of shed in the Issaquah area this morning. Throughout the region, streets and highways were slick. All three runways at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport were closed in the early morning. Nearly all major school districts in the area were closed.
Relief may not come soon. An "ice storm warning" from the Weather Service, originally to end at noon Thursday, was extended to 2 p.m. in what meteorologist Jeff Michalski said is the Seattle area's first ice storm since December 1996.
Snow and freezing rain continued to fall throughout the region into late morning. Conditions were expected to remain difficult through the afternoon commuting hours. Although precipitation is forecast to taper off, Michalski said temperatures in Seattle may remain below freezing until well into Thursday evening.
Warmer air is on the way from the south, but moving slowly. At 10 a.m., when the Sea-Tac temperature was at 28 degrees, Hoquiam had 33 and Kelso had 36, but Bellingham was still at 19.
A dangerous layer of ice is created as warm, moist air is brings rainfall, but cold air near the surface causes it to freeze as it hits the ground.
Freezing rain also builds up on tree limbs, causing them to sag, snap and fall — the key cause of the area's power outages.
Gregoire, in a news release, said the declaration of a state of emergency would, among other things, "ensure delivery of valuable dairy products across Washington state."
The act waives hours of service for drivers of trucks hauling intrastate bulk milk shipments from farms to dairy-processing facilities. It also enables the state to activate the Washington National Guard and free up state agencies "to take extraordinary steps to help local jurisdictions during the current winter storm."
At midmorning, as many as 90,000 customers of Puget Sound Energy were without electrical service, and more outages were likely, according to a PSE spokesman.
In the Tacoma area, an estimated 25,000 customers were without power. Snohomish County PUD reported 4,000 without power.
Snohomish County PUD spokesman Mike Thorne said outages there were scattered around the county, mostly in rural areas. Most were caused when falling trees or branches, heavy with snow, hit power lines.
Slick roads were creating hazards throughout the area. Early Thursday, three lanes of northbound Interstate 5 near I-405 in Snohomish County were closed by an overturned semi.
In Seattle, Transportation Department trucks were out spreading salt and de-icer.
In Oregon, rising water from heavy rains swept a car carrying at least two people into an overflowing creek in the Willamette Valley community of Albany. The two people escaped and authorities searched for others who might have been in the car, fire officials said. Early reports indicated that a child was missing, but fire officials said there were too many conflicting accounts be sure. A search was suspended until daylight.
Jack Broom: 206-464-2222 or jbroom@seattletimes.com Material from The Associated Press is included in this report end quote from:
Seattle Times local News January 19th 2012
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