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Seattle Winter Windstorm Response

UPDATE 11/25: Power is restored to most households and shelter at Garfield Community Center is now closed.

The City of Seattle is tracking the next round of windstorms and continued impacts from power outages. This blog post will be updated with the latest information on places for people to charge devices and get somewhere warm. Overnight shelter was available at the Garfield Community Center as an overnight shelter starting at 7PM 11/22 in partnership with the Red Cross.

Forecast Update 

Steady rain is expected to continue through Friday morning before breaking to infrequent showers by around 12-1pm. Infrequent showers die down overnight with just a few light showers possible until picking up to frequent showers once more by Saturday afternoon. Additionally, southerly winds are expected to pick up this afternoon, gusting up to 35 mph. Winds die down overnight and become somewhat breezy again Saturday. 

A continued active pattern is expected to continue with shower activity and periods of rain for the next few day before dry conditions are expected to return by Tuesday. Dry conditions should hold out before a few showers pass through early Wednesday morning. Additionally, winds should remain relatively light throughout the weekend and work-week, aside from some breezy easterly winds possible once again on Sunday night, but likely no significantly gusty conditions. 

Power Updates 

As of midday on 11/22, there were approximately 1,250 City Light customers still without power within Seattle city limits and additional outages in the region. City Light crews have been working around the clock to restore power and this is down from a peak of over 114,000 on 11/19. 

Call (206) 684-3000 to report an outage. If you see a downed power line, call 911. Do not touch or approach a downed power line, assume all wires are energized and dangerous. 

  • Current outage map for City Light here
  • More information on this event from City Light here

Indoor Spaces  

Public-facing city facilities, including libraries and community centers, are open and available during their regular business hours and can serve as a space to stay warm and charge devices.  

  • Overnight Shelter: The Garfield Community Center is available as an overnight shelter starting at 7PM 11/22 in partnership with the Red Cross (staff will assess if the shelter needs to operate Saturday night depending on SCL restoration estimates and progress). All regular Garfield Community Center programs and rentals are cancelled Saturday, 11/23. The Shelter will accept pets. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority manages severe weather shelters for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. At this point severe KCRHA weather shelters have not been activated click here for more information.   
  • Seattle Center: Seattle Center Armory will be open during the day and can be utilized as a warming and charging station. The building is generally open 7am – 8pm daily, check hours here
  • Community Centers: Other Seattle Parks and Recreation Community Centers will be open to the public during regular business hours. Please check here for information about any impacts to community center hours or programming and call the school-age/preschool hotline, 206-684-4203, for updates on those programs.   
  • Libraries: All locations of The Seattle Public Library are operating as scheduled. Please visit spl.org/Today or your branch webpage on spl.org before visiting to learn about any unanticipated closures or delays in opening.  

Safety Tips 

  • Heating: Never use generators, charcoal or gas grills, or propane heaters indoors. The fumes are deadly. 
  • Fireplaces: Make sure that chimneys and flues are not blocked. Move flammable materials at least three feet away from a fireplace or wood stove. 
  • Food: Eating spoiled food could make you sick, when in doubt, throw it out. If your power is out for more than 4 hours, throw out perishable food in your refrigerator. If possible, move perishable food to a cooler with icepacks.  
  • Power Lines: Never touch, approach or come into contact with anything touching a downed power line. Call 911 to report. 
  • Emergency Alerts: If you would like to receive alerts about service impacts and other emergencies, sign up for AlertSeattle. Receive text, email, or phone alerts when emergencies happen near your home, school, workplace, and anywhere else in Seattle. To sign up for alerts and customize alert settings, create an AlertSeattle profile. To sign up for text alerts only, text SEATTLE to 67283. 

Outside Seattle 

The windstorm had severe impacts to the region and many of Seattle’s surrounding communities are still without power. For the latest information on regional impacts and available resources including warming center locations outside Seattle visit King County Emergency News

Restoring Damaged Service 

  • If the utility has intentionally discontinued power to your property, they will not reconnect the power until you provide an endorsement from SDCI. 
  • To get an endorsement from SDCI to turn on an electrical service, you will need an SDCI electrical permit, a service inspection, and a sticker applied to your meter. To create a new permit, go to Seattle Services Portal
  • SDCI’s service inspection only applies to the electrical service components, which is usually a mast, meter, and service panel. This inspection does not include the branch circuit wiring throughout the home or building. 

 If you have questions about restoring your electrical service after a flood or fire, call SDCI’s electrical inspection team at (206) 684-5383