Mayor outlines Seattle’s winter storm preparedness efforts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/1/2012

Mayor outlines Seattle’s winter storm preparedness efforts
Describes online tools available to help public prepare for winter weather

SEATTLE – Mayor Mike McGinn today encouraged residents to begin making annual preparations for the possibility of winter weather-related emergencies and updated the public on how the City is preparing for winter storms. McGinn described online tools available to the public to help them track storms and their impact on City services. He also described efforts the City is taking to help support storm recovery on the East Coast.

“Whether it’s heavy rain, snow and ice, or strong winds, winter weather can cause significant disruption to our lives and our economy. Now is the time to start to prepare for storms, and the City is here to help support the public as they get ready for winter,” McGinn said.

McGinn also described online tools available to the public to help them prepare and cope with winter weather. Seattle Public Utilities’ Rainwatch program – developed in partnership with UW meteorologists Cliff Mass and Phil Regulski – tracks storms and forecasts rain at the neighborhood level, providing the region’s most accurate and precise weather tracking and forecasting system. Our program Snowwatch uses data from Rainwatch, combined with temperature trends, to estimate and predict snowfall. Seattle City Light’s Windwatch provides the same function for forecasting of high winds, and their Outage Map tracks power outages across Seattle. McGinn also highlighted the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Winter Weather Response Map, which helps residents plan trips based on traffic cameras and real-time information about where our snow ploys are deployed.

“The single biggest thing that Seattleites can do to help prevent urban flooding is to clean leaves out of street drains,” said Seattle Public Utilities director Ray Hoffman.

There are several ways that residents can help their families and the City respond to disruptions, including loss of power, during winter storms:

• Residents should always have a three-day supply of water and food that does not need to be cooked;
• Have extra blankets on hand and close the doors to rooms you aren’t using to help keep warm;
• Don’t bring your barbecue or any fossil fuel burning stove inside your house to cook when the power goes out – this could cause carbon monoxide poisoning;
• A hand-crank radio and a hand-crank flashlight should be available – please don’t use open flames such as candles;
• The City of Seattle is a partner in the regional Take Winter By Storm effort – residents are encouraged to visit www.takewinterbystorm.org for more tips on being prepared for winter;
• Call 206-684-7400 to report a power outage, to find out about reported outages and to asked to have call-back when your power is restored. Seattle City Light needs your current phone number – both home and cell – in order to respond to your call.

Complete checklists are available at www.takewinterbystorm.org. Tips for what to do when the power goes out are available at http://seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_pout.htm.

In the event of snow and ice, the Seattle Department of Transportation has 30 snowplows of various sizes and configurations, 10 plow only trucks for use during heavy accumulation, and 4 anti-icing vehicles available. They have trained an operator pool within the City utilities and parks departments to cover all shifts. SDOT currently have 3,800 tons of granular salt & 47,000 gallons anti-icing storage capacity, roughly three times more granular salt storage than last season. 11 new roadway surface temperature sensors have been purchased and are being installed to help SDOT improve their ability to deploy resources as needed.

In addition to helping Seattle City Light customers prepare themselves for power outages, in the six years since the December 2006 windstorm that knocked out half of their distribution system, City Light has reorganized its storm response procedures. They have installed a computerized outage management system to coordinate restoration work and customer communications; and increased tree trimming to avoid outages from branches coming into contact with power lines. In 2012, City Light cleared more than 600 line miles of trees from power lines. Since 2007 the utility has cleared 2375 line miles. Since 2007, City Light has added 100 line workers and re-instated their apprenticeship programs.

“Our crews are ready to respond and restore service as quickly and as safely as possible, but it is always important for each of us to be prepared for a power outage,” Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said.

Seattle Public Utilities crews work year round to get ready for storm season. By the end of this summer, the crews had pumped out over 4,300 catch basins and inspected over 25,000. They had inspected 85 miles of pipes and cleaned more than 164 miles of pipes.

SPU is also preparing its Urban Flood Response Plan. When activated, the utility puts field crews on alert, and stages flood control equipment at various locations around the city. SPU deploys volunteer storm observers to monitor various flood-prone areas, freeing up crews to do the work they need to do such as clearing drains. Regular City crews can be called in if needed for assistance.

More information:

Rainwatch: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/SPU/
Snowwatch: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/SNOWWATCH/
Windwatch: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/SCL/
Outage map: http://www.seattle.gov/light/sysstat/
Winter weather response map: http://web1.seattle.gov/sdot/winterweathermap/

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Office of the Mayor

[View City of Seattle News Release]

Are You Prepared for Landslides?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/30/2012

Are You Prepared for Landslides?
Rainfall gauge exceeds landslide threshold

SEATTLE — Did you know that most landslides occur between the months of October and April? And that 86 percent of landslides are caused to some extent by human activity? Landslide season is upon us. Today the USGS rain gauge used to anticipate the likelihood of landslides in the area moved about the threshold, meaning some level of landslide activity is likely in the coming days. The City of Seattle urges residents to take preventive measures to protect themselves and their property from possible landslides.

Landslide experts agree there is not one single factor that contributes to landslides in the area, but in most cases there are steps that property owners can take to mitigate risk.

With 20,000 Seattle properties (mostly residential) in landslide-prone areas, the
City of Seattle and the Take Winter By Storm campaign encourage property owners to take preventive measures to protect themselves from landslides, and learn more about how to manage hillside property by attending a free landslide awareness meeting.

2012 City of Seattle Landslide Awareness Meeting – November 10.

The free landslide awareness meeting will give the public the opportunity to consult with public/private landslide experts and learn simple preventive measures that will help protect them from future landslides, such as the following:

• Clearing nearby storm drains of leaves and other debris
• Checking downspouts; making sure they are functioning/routed to a safe location
• Inspecting sloping areas for indications of slope movement and erosion
• Keeping fill and yard waste off slopes
• Shutting off the irrigation system and checking it out seasonally
• Leaving tree stumps in the ground on slopes
• Knowing when to seek professional help for hillside projects

2012 City of Seattle Landslide Awareness Meeting

The landslide awareness meeting will include a presentation that discusses the causes of landslides, proper drainage for sloping sites, and vegetation maintenance on slopes. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session and time for one-on-one discussions with professionals in the field, including the City of Seattle, and volunteers from The American Society for Civil Engineers, The Association of Engineering Geologists, The International Society of Arboriculture, and Associated Building Contractors.

Nov. 10, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Northgate Community Center
Multipurpose Room
10510 5th Ave. NE
(across from Northgate Mall)

Seattle Landslides

The landslide record that was documented in the Seattle Landslide Study of 2000 indicates that 86 percent of landslides that have occurred in the city have some human influence such as excavating and filling on steep slopes, broken pipes and uncontrolled storm water.

Since the devastating landslide season of 1996/1997, which involved over 300 reported landslides, the city has taken steps to prepare and respond to slides by constructing mitigation projects to reduce the potential for future slides. It has also been presenting these public landslide awareness meetings for owners of landslide-prone 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 that may be affected by or endangered by a landslide should contact a geotechnical professional for structural evaluation.

To view the current conditions of the USGS rainfall threshold for landslides, please visit: http://landslides.usgs.gov/monitoring/seattle/rtd/plot.php.

For more information about Seattle landslides and the City of Seattle free landslide awareness meetings, please visit: www.seattle.gov/dpd/emergency/landslides.

Take Winter By Storm is a regional campaign aimed at helping citizens and businesses get prepared before bad weather strikes. Learn more at: www.takewinterbystorm.org.

[View City of Seattle News Release]

City of Seattle Continues Full Response to Severe Weather

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/24/2010 City of Seattle Continues Full Response to Severe Weather
Seattle’s Emergency Operations Center Active

SEATTLE – The City of Seattle continues its full response to the severe weather.

The National Weather Service is forecasting sub-freezing temperatures to last through Thanksgiving morning and to warm later that afternoon.

SDOT: SDOT continues working to prevent freezing on snow routes:

• Currently the City has 17 trucks with salt spreaders and two flusher trucks deployed.
• Snow routes are in good condition.
• There was no significant re-freezing of cleared roadways during the past 24 hours.
• There are no significant problems on the snow route network.
• The Alaskan Way Viaduct and the West Seattle High Rise Bridge are bare and dry.
• Focus is on reopening closed roads. The Seattle Police Department and SDOT are working to review roads currently closed and will update the list online.
• The City will continue the same level of deployed vehicles for the morning commute; focus will be on efforts to prevent re-freezing, address trouble spots on Level 3 routes, and bring more roads off the closed list.
• Because of the possibility of precipitation today leading to the formation of black ice tonight, some roads will remain closed.
• 24 hour shifts will continue through Thursday, November 25.

SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES

• Garbage, yard waste and recycling collection have been postponed in Seattle for a second day, due to dangerous road conditions; icy side streets prohibit safe collections. There will be no residential services on Wednesday, November 24.

·

• Collection services for commercial and multi-family accounts will be available on a limited basis Wednesday, November 24, where access allows.
• Customers whose containers were not collected on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of this week will have them collected next week on their regularly scheduled pick-up day, and will be allowed to set out double their normal amount of garbage, yard waste and recycling at no additional charge.

POLICE

As a result of the traffic-related issues created by the snow and ice, the Seattle Police Department continues to manage snow-related incidents at the precinct level, reporting to the Emergency Operations Center. Staffing and call volume today have been comparable to normal operations. It is anticipated that SPD will return to normal operations tomorrow if conditions remain the same.

HUMAN SERVICES

Several shelters will be available for people trying to avoid the cold overnight:

• The co-ed City Hall shelter, located at Fourth and James, 9 p.m. – 6 a.m., capacity, 75 people;
• The Frye Hotel, for women only, at Third and Yesler, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., capacity, 25 people.
• Starting today, the Seattle Center shelter building will be switched from the Pavilion to the Rainier Room (one of the Northwest rooms). Hours are 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Seattle Center Centerhouse is open 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. as a warming center.

LIBRARIES

• All locations of The Seattle Public Library, including the downtown Central Library, will be open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24.
• The Green Lake Library was closed yesterday due to lack of staff availability because of the weather.

MUNICIPAL COURT

• Seattle Municipal Court will begin at 10 a.m. today.

PARKS

• Parks and Recreation Community Centers, Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center, Camp Long Environmental Learning Center, and the Amy Yee Tennis Center will operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today for drop-in activities.
• Pools will operate an adjusted schedule, please call the individual pool for programs and times, with the exception of Helene Madison Pool, which will be closed.
• Athletic fields will be closed Wednesday.
• School Age Care Programs cancelled.
• Athletic programs are cancelled.
• Scheduled recreation programs and classes are cancelled.

·

• Swimming Lesson programs are cancelled.
• Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is closed.
• Green Lake and Mt. Baker small craft centers are closed.
• Jefferson Golf Course is open for sledding.

CITY LIGHT

• There are no outages. At the height of the storm, 1,500 customers were without power. Most were restored within eight hours. The remaining customers were restored before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

FIRE

• The Fire Department added two aid cars to help out with an increased number of emergency medical responses over the past 48 hours.
• The department continues to increase staffing through Wednesday.
• Seattle Fire dispatched 507 emergency responses on Monday, approximately twice the normal number of calls received per day.
• All fire engines, trucks, medic units, and aid cars are chained up to allow access to emergencies.

PREPAREDNESS

• If Pipes Break or Freeze

Freezing weather is here. That means frozen and broken pipes are a possibility. If a water pipe breaks follow these steps:

• Immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop flooding. The shut-off valve can be indoors or outdoors – usually in a basement, crawlspace or garage. If you cannot turn off the main shutoff valve, Seattle Public Utilities customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.
• Call a plumber to repair or replace the damaged section of pipe as soon as possible.
• Don’t use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes — you face the risk of electrocution!
• The City of Seattle is a partner in the Take Winter by Storm campaign to help residents prepare for winter conditions and emergencies. For information about how you can better prepare, visit www.takewinterbystorm.org

# # #

[View City of Seattle News Release]

City of Seattle Continues Response to Severe Weather

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/24/2010 City of Seattle Continues Response to Severe Weather
Emergency Operations Center de-activates, City Departments Continue Response Efforts

SEATTLE – The City of Seattle continues its response in treating snow routes through the day in response to the first snowstorm of the season.

The National Weather Service is forecasting sub-freezing temperatures to last through Thanksgiving morning and to warm later that afternoon.

SDOT:

SDOT continues working to prevent freezing on snow routes:

• Currently have 7 plow/spreader trucks operating in the north end and eight operating in the south end. One brine flush truck in the north end and two in the south end.
• Shift change from night shift to day shift was completed at 8:00 a.m.
• SDOT dispatched pedestrian response crews from both its Haller Lake and Charles Street bases of operations by 8:00 a.m., with help from its Urban Forestry unit, for a total of twelve crews dispatched citywide.
• Staff will continue to monitor elevated structures all day and will continue applying salt to them to achieve the best possible surface condition before the evening commute
• The Street Maintenance Division will stay on 12-hour shifts with 24-hour coverage into Thursday morning.
• Crews’ focus today is on Level Two and Level Three Streets and working with SPD to open, wherever possible, the streets that are now closed.

POLICE

As a result of the traffic-related issues created by the snow and ice, the Seattle Police Department is currently managing snow-related incidents at the precinct level, with periodic reporting through the SPOC. Police staffing and call volume today have been comparable to normal operations and has not been significantly affected by the weather. It is anticipated that SPD will return to normal operations tomorrow if conditions remain the same.

HUMAN SERVICES

• Last night the City Hall shelter hosted 68 men, the Frye hotel 29 women, and the Seattle Center Pavilion 62 men and eight women.
• The co-ed City Hall shelter, located at Fourth and James, 9 p.m. – 6 a.m., capacity, 75 people, will be open these hours at least through Monday, November 29.
• The Frye Hotel, for women only, at Third and Yesler, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., capacity, 25 people, will be open these hours at least through Monday, November 29.

LIBRARIES

• All locations of The Seattle Public Library, including the downtown Central Library, will be open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24, if staff can get to them. Please call the individual library before setting out: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch.

NEIGHBORHOODS

• These neighborhood service centers are open today:
• Lake City: Open 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Open for lunch

• Ballard: Open 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

• University: Open 10:00-6:00

Closed for lunch 2:00-3:00

• Central: Open 9:00-5:00

Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

• Southeast: Open 9:00-5:00

Open for lunch

• Delridge: Open 10:00-5:00

Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

• West Seattle: Open 9:00-5:00

Closed for lunch 1:00-2:00

PARKS

• All golf courses are closed for sledding.

PREPAREDNESS

• The City of Seattle is a partner in the Take Winter by Storm campaign to help residents prepare for winter conditions and emergencies. For information about how you can better prepare, visit wwww.takewinterbystorm.org
• If Pipes Break or Freeze

Freezing weather is here. That means frozen and broken pipes are a possibility. If a water pipe breaks follow these steps:

• Immediately close the main shut-off valve to stop flooding. The shut-off valve can be indoors or outdoors – usually in a basement, crawlspace or garage. If you cannot turn off the main shutoff valve, Seattle Public Utilities customers can call (206) 386-1800 and a crew will turn off the water at the meter for a standard service charge.
• Call a plumber to repair or replace the damaged section of pipe as soon as possible.
• Don’t use hair dryers to thaw frozen pipes — you face the risk of electrocution!
• The City of Seattle is a partner in the Take Winter by Storm campaign to help residents prepare for winter conditions and emergencies. For information about how you can better prepare, visit www.takewinterbystorm.org

Representatives of the media should contact the following departmental representatives for additional information on the city’s response during and after this snowstorm.

• Seattle Department of Transportation – For media inquiries regarding transportation issues, please call SDOT’s 24-7 media hotline at (206) 684-3151.
• Seattle Fire Department – Helen Fitzpatrick, (206) 386-1463, helen.fitzpatrick@seattle.gov
• Seattle Police Department – Sean Whitcomb, (206) 684-5520, sean.whitcomb@seattle.gov
• Human Services Department – David Takami, (206) 684-0253, david.takami@seattle.gov
• Seattle Public Utilities — For media inquiries regarding Seattle Public Utilities operations, please call SPU’s 24-7 media pager, at: (206) 997-5972.
• Seattle City Light – For media inquiries regarding Seattle City Light, please call City Light’s 24-7 media hotline at (206) 386-4233.

To see this morning’s status report information that is still current, please see today’s earlier news release.

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[View City of Seattle News Release]

Status Update on City Reponse to Severe Weather

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/23/2010 Status Update on City Reponse to Severe Weather Emergency Operations Center Activated at 5:00 a.m. SEATTLE – The City of Seattle Emergency Operations Center activated at 5:00 a.m. this morning. The foll…

City of Seattle Continues Full Response in Treating Snow Routes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/23/2010

City of Seattle Continues Full Response in Treating Snow Routes
Seattle’s Emergency Operations Center Deactivates

SEATTLE – The City of Seattle will continue its full response in treating snow routes through the night but the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be deactivated at 7 p.m. today, following two days of operation in response to the first snowstorm of the season. The EOC is scheduled to resume operations at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Barb Graff, director of the city of Seattle’s Office of Emergency Management, said the EOC stood down after emergency activity declined to the level where it was appropriate for the city to go back to normal departmental operations.

The city’s response to the snowstorm included:

• SDOT anti-icing / plows
• Additional shelter opened at Seattle Center Pavilion
• Warming centers opened at the Family and Adult Service Center (FASC) Day Center and The Seattle Center House
• Warnings about appropriate heating devices
• Information on what to do if you experience frozen pipes
• How to protect your pets from cold weather

Looking ahead to Wednesday:

POLICE

As a result of the traffic-related issues created by the snow and ice, the Seattle Police Department is currently managing snow-related incidents at the precinct level, with periodic reporting through the SPOC. Police staffing and call volume today have been comparable to normal operations and has not been significantly affected by the weather. It is anticipated that SPD will return to normal operations tomorrow if conditions remain the same.

HUMAN SERVICES

Several shelters will be available for people trying to avoid the cold:

• The co-ed City Hall shelter, located at Fourth and James, 9 p.m. – 6 a.m., capacity, 75 people;
• The Frye Hotel, for women only, at Third and Yesler, 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., capacity, 25 people.
• The Seattle Center shelter building will be switched from the Pavilion to the Rainier Room (one of the Northwest rooms), 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., capacity 100 people.

LIBRARIES

• All locations of The Seattle Public Library, including the downtown Central Library, will be open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 24

PARKS

• Parks and Recreation Community Centers, Discovery Park ELC, Camp Long, and the Amy Yee Tennis Center will operate from 10am – 5pm, Wednesday, 11/24, for drop-in activities.
• Pools will operate an adjusted schedule, please call the individual pool for programs and times. Madison Pool will be closed tomorrow.
• Athletic Fields will be closed Wednesday
• School Age Care Programs are cancelled
• Athletic programs are cancelled
• Scheduled Recreation programs and classes are cancelled
• Swimming Lesson programs are cancelled
• Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center will be closed
• Green Lake and Mt Baker Small Craft Centers will be closed
• Parks will make a decision on golf courses in the morning

PREPAREDNESS

• The City of Seattle is a partner in the Take Winter By Storm campaign to help residents prepare for winter conditions and emergencies. For information about how you can better prepare, visit www.takewinterbystorm.org

Representatives of the media should contact the following departmental representatives for additional information on the city’s response during and after this snowstorm.

• Seattle Department of Transportation – For media inquiries regarding transportation issues, please call SDOT’s 24-7 media hotline at (206) 684-3151.
• Seattle Fire Department – Helen Fitzpatrick, (206) 386-1463, helen.fitzpatrick@seattle.gov
• Seattle Police Department – Sean Whitcomb, (206) 684-5520, sean.whitcomb@seattle.gov
• Human Services Department – David Takami, (206) 684-0253, david.takami@seattle.gov
• Seattle Public Utilities — For media inquiries regarding Seattle Public Utilities operations, please call SPU’s 24-7 media pager, at: (206) 997-5972.
• Seattle City Light – For media inquiries regarding Seattle City Light, please call City Light’s 24-7 media hotline at (206) 386-4233.

# # #

[View City of Seattle News Release]

City of Seattle Continues Response to Severe Weather

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/22/2010

SEATTLE – With the National Weather Service calling for continued subfreezing temperatures and winds gusting up to 40 mph, the city of Seattle continues its response. Following is an update.

• The Seattle Department of Transportation continues its snow response with 22 plows and three flusher trucks applying anti-icing material on snow routes through 8 p.m. On the night shift SDOT will continue salt brining on snow routes. For more information, please see
  http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm.

• The city of Seattle will open the Seattle Center Pavilion near Key Arena tonight through Thursday, Nov. 25, as an additional shelter for homeless people. Doors open at 9 p.m. each evening. These shelters are also open the nights of November 22, 23, 24, and 25:

  • City Hall, 4th Avenue between Cherry and James Sts., is open from 9 p.m. and people should not arrive before 8:30 p.m.
  • Frye Hotel (women only), 3rd Ave. and Yesler Way, opens at 8 p.m.

• Fire Department has chained up four of its engines in anticipation of worsening road conditions; Engine 17 (University District), Engine 31 (Northgate), Engine 8 (top of Queen Anne Hill), and Engine 2 (bottom of Queen Anne Hill).

• Seattle Parks and Recreation has closed all athletic fields and has cancelled all community center programs scheduled after 6 p.m., and all pool programs. Parks has also cancelled all evening recreation programs and closed middle-school learning centers and golf courses. Pools and community centers are open for drop-in use until their regularly scheduled closing times and school age care camps are in session. http://parkways.seattle.gov/2010/11/22/parks-and-recreation-cancels-programs-closes-some-facilities/

• Woodland Park Zoo closed at 3 p.m. today. Regular winter hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

• The City reminds residents NOT to use barbecues or electric generators indoors, because poisonous carbon monoxide build up and can cause permanent brain damage and even death.

• Seattle Animal Shelter reminds pet owners to keep pets inside. For more information, please see http://thescoop.seattle.gov/2010/11/17/seattle-animal-shelter-reminds-pet-owners-to-protect-pets-from-cold/.

• There is no change in garbage pickup at this time.

• For more information, go to http://www.seattle.gov.

[View City of Seattle News Release]

City of Seattle Responds to Heavy Rains

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12/3/2007 City of Seattle Responds to Heavy Rains SEATTLE – City of Seattle crews are responding to neighborhood flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains. The city has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC…

Broken Water Main Shuts Down University Bridge; Eastlake Boulevard Closed Just South of Bridge; Some Customers Without Water

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/2/2007 Broken Water Main Shuts Down University Bridge; Eastlake Boulevard Closed Just South of Bridge; Some Customers Without Water SEATTLE – A broken 24-inch water main shut down the University Bridge this morning an…

Avoid University Bridge for Afternoon Commute

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/2/2007 SEATTLE –Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) officials advise Seattle motorists to avoid the University Bridge during today’s afternoon commute, as it is closed because of this morning’s water main b…

Water Service Restored in Aftermath of University Bridge Main Break

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 5/2/2007

Water Service Restored in Aftermath of University Bridge Main Break

Bridge Remains Closed Until Further Notice; Update Expected Later This Evening

SEATTLE — Water was restored to areas of Seattle’s Eastlake and Capitol Hill neighborhoods at 5 p.m. today, following a morning break in a 24-inch water main which shut down the University Bridge and disrupted water service to some local business and residences.

The bridge remains closed until further notice, and commuters are advised to find alternate routes. An update on the bridge’s status is expected later this evening.

The cause of the water main break, first reported at 7:36 a.m. on Portage Bay Place which runs under the south end of the bridge, is still under investigation. The bridge was closed at 7:45 this morning as a precaution.

At around 11 a.m., Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) crews had completed the complex job of shutting off the water main, which involved closing a number of valves. Water pressure in the pipe had been slowly reduced to avoid damage to the system. Crews were finishing up the process of restoring limited local service.

Two unoccupied, parked cars, which fell into a large sinkhole caused by the break, have been removed.

Seattle Department of Transportation engineers were on the scene to determine whether there has been any structural damage to the bridge.

Some Metro buses are being rerouted. For more information call 206-553-3000, or go to http://transit.metrokc.gov.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) received several hundred customer phone calls who have lost water service or pressure due to the broken water main. Water pressure has been restored to neighborhoods outside the affected project area.

The City’s water is safe. If you have discolored water, as a general precaution we recommend that you wait until the water clears before drinking it.

• There is no reason to believe that contamination entered the water system.
• Discolored water results from internal pipe rust getting stirred up with changes in flow and pressure.
• If the water does not clear, let the water sit for an hour. Then run the water for a few minutes and flush the toilet a couple of times. If the water remains discolored, please contact SPU Customer Service at (206) 684-3000.

Only one leak in the cast iron water main has been reported in the last 15 years.

The section of pipe that broke is 90 years old. There are 147 miles of cast iron pipes in Seattle’s system. This pipe is a feeder line which is part of the backbone of the distribution grid for the City.

The last similar break was on Western Avenue in 1998, near Pike Place Market. A major contributing factor in that break was a footing for a pedestrian walkway that was directly over the pipe. Small but repeated loading caused a crack that ultimately leak to the break.

The cause of the current break remains under investigation. The existing pipe had a 12-foot longitudinal split.

The durability of cast iron pipe is influenced by how well it was installed, the surrounding soil, the presence of vibration and other loads over the top of the pipe. Based on these factors and the current leak rates, SPU assessed that the life expectancy of pipes in its system is 150 to 200 years.

In Seattle, pipes are monitored based on their leak history. Pipes that have frequent leaks are typically replaced.

SPU has benchmarked its system nationally and internationally. The results show that Seattle has one of the most robust water systems in the world. Our leak rate is one-third of the national average, and one-tenth of Australia’s.

In addition to providing a reliable water supply to more than 1.3 million customers in the Seattle metropolitan area, SPU provides essential sewer, drainage, solid waste and engineering services that safeguard public health, maintain the city’s infrastructure and protect, conserve and enhance the region’s environmental resources.

– 30 –

[View City of Seattle News Release]

Flooding Aftermath

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/20/2003 WINDY,RAINY WEATHER DICTATES CAUTION ON CITY STREETS SEATTLE – Tuesday morning commuters should drive carefully, cautions Seattle Department of Transportation Director Grace Crunican. Even if the rain tapers of…