County crews clear roads, Metro Transit aims for regular routes
Two more carbon monoxide cases in Kent
Fire and health officials are reminding residents of the dangers of carbon monoxide
poisoning after two incidents in Kent o where residents reportedly fell ill while
using charcoal grills as an indoor heat source. Emergency responders and medical
officials remind everyone that barbecues or generators should never be used indoors.
The reports came as King County residents continued to deal with power outages,
clogged storm drains, and debris on roads.
- As of 5:00 a.m. Saturday there were approximately 120,000 households without power
in King County. Puget Sound Energy planned to dispatch 200 crews through the weekend
in King, Pierce and Thurston Counties.
- Strong winds Saturday morning may have added more debris to area roadways.
- A flood advisory remained in effect for urban neighborhoods and small streams
until Sat. afternoon. King County reminds you to check and clear out storm drains
in your neighborhood that may be clogged with snow and debris.
- Remember to stay away from any downed power line. As always, make safety your
first concern.
Metro Transit
People riding the bus Saturday and Sunday should check the Metro website before
traveling. There will be no route cancellations. But because of slush and debris,
not all routes will return to regular routing at the same time. Watch for updated
information online or through Transit Alerts. People can also call the Customer
Information Office at (206) 553-3000 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Due to the volume of calls, there may be longer-than-normal waits on the phone.
Metro thanks customers for their patience in dealing with service disruptions and
delays caused by this week’s storms.
King County Roads
King County Road Services Division continues to make significant headway with its
round-the-clock response to downed trees and slushy conditions on County roadways.
Residents can check out road conditions and closures before leaving the house at:
www.kingcounty.gov/mycommute. Motorists should be on the lookout for falling debris
and use extreme caution when traveling, especially on roads in heavily wooded areas
of the county.
Shelter & warming facilities open throughout King County
In response to power outages, warming centers and shelters are available for the
general public including a daytime warming center now open in Covington and Red
Cross-operated 24-hour facilities in Federal Way and Issaquah. King County Library
system facilities are open to the public during as warming shelters. Locations and
hours at: http://wiki.kcls.org/wiki2/Emergency_Closures/index.php/Main_Page. A complete
updated list is at: www.kingcounty.gov/prepare.
Free snow and ice storm damage inspections in unincorporated areas
Residents in unincorporated King County whose homes were damaged during lst week’s
snow and ice storms are offered free building inspections from King County’s Department
of Development and Environmental Services (DDES). DDES has waived the associated
fee to help residents speed up repair to their property. Also, priority service
will be given for damaged structures requiring permits for repair work.
The King County Department of Development and Environmental Services also reminds
the public that permits may be required before performing certain non-building related
repairs, such as hazard tree removal if trees are in environmentally critical areas.
Permits can be issued retroactively if a tree poses imminent danger to persons or
property.
To request a damage assessment inspection during business hours, please call 206-296-6630.
DDES operates Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. www.kingcounty.gov/property/permits/about/ddesmap.aspx.
Disposing of storm debris
Residents and businesses are encouraged to recycle construction, demolition and
land clearing debris. To see a complete list of recycling options and links to resources,
visit http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/wdidw/material.asp.
Small amounts of construction, demolition and land clearing debris are accepted
at King County solid waste transfer stations. Customers using dump trucks, flat
beds that dump, or roll-off boxes may not dispose of construction, demolition and
land clearing debris at King County transfer stations unless it is less than 10
percent of the total volume of the load. (Note: Dump trucks, flat beds and roll-offs
with construction, demolition and land clearing debris are accepted at the Vashon
transfer station.)
The following restrictions also apply:
- No hazardous or dangerous waste.
- No items greater than eight feet long.
- Dense items that are bigger than 2 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet and weigh more than
200 pounds are not accepted. Examples include big pieces of concrete, large stumps,
wood stoves and cast iron bathtubs.
- The maximum combined vehicle and trailer length limits are: 30 feet at Algona,
Cedar Falls, Factoria, Houghton, Renton and Vashon and 40 feet at Bow Lake, Enumclaw
and Shoreline.
Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill. Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels
such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.
Prevent poisoning from carbon monoxide:
- Only use a generator outdoors and far from open windows and vents
- Never use a generator or portable propane heater indoors, in garages or carports
- Never cook or heat inside on a charcoal or gas grill.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen suddenly and without warning. Physical symptoms
of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting,
and lethargy and fatigue.
If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air
immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor's home. The Fire Department will
tell you when it is safe to re-enter the home.
For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster
information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster.
Medical support if your power is out
Some people receive medical support at home that may be disrupted by the power outages.
If you need power for medical equipment or need replacement oxygen tanks, call Public
Health at 1-877-903-KING (5464) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for assistance
Posted on January 24, 2012