Campaign urges readiness for winter's trials

After last winter's massive snowfall paralyzed the city, we all should have learned the value of being more self-reliant.

With that in mind, a coalition is campaigning to persuade residents to become more prepared for storms — rain, wind, snow — and other extreme weather and natural events this fall and winter.

The partnership includes agencies within King County and Seattle governments, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and State Farm Insurance. The campaign is called Take Winter By Storm, and the partnership maintains a Web site, www.takewinterbystorm.org, that lists precautions to take, supplies to store and adjustments to keep in mind.

The campaign's catchphrase is, "We're ready. Are you?"

"We've been hit hard with wind- and snowstorms the past couple of years, and our agencies have put plans in place," said Scott Thomsen, a Seattle City Light spokesman. "But the public needs to know it has a role, too. Citizens should make plans to take care of themselves for three days in those extreme cases."

In the winter of 2006, vicious windstorms left many residents without power for a week. No Seattle resident will soon forget the frustration of last winter's prolonged snow-induced standstill. And King County is particularly concerned this year about how the Green River Valley will handle the threat of flooding.

Residents, businesses and farms below leaky Howard Hanson Dam in the Green River Valley have been warned about higher flood risk when heavy and prolonged rain occurs from now until about spring. Authorities warn that evacuations in some communities may be necessary, key transportation routes and transit service could be disrupted, and power outages and sewage backups could occur even outside the immediate flood zone.

Three years ago, Cornell Amaya, strategic adviser in external communications at Seattle Public Utilities, led an effort to focus energy and resources of the various groups on helping businesses and residents to get prepared. The group sought regional partners, from utilities to businesses, and its budget has tripled since.

Former KIRO-TV chief meteorologist Andy Wappler, now manager of corporate communications for PSE, appears in the television, radio and Web spots for the Take Winter by Storm campaign.

"In following Puget Sound weather patterns for 15 years I can tell you storms are always a 'surprise,' " he said. "And in that time, I think I learned as much about psychology as meteorology. It's hard to gear up for winter when the beautiful, sunny October days were just here, but then all of a sudden here came the weather, the winds and rain."

A recent survey found that only 38 percent of respondents believed they were more prepared than the previous winter.

Five percent of those respondents didn't know that using charcoal or gas grills indoors can cause carbon-monoxide poisoning. About 14 percent said they seldom avoid driving through standing water. And 38 percent seldom rake leaves and debris away from storm drains near their home when it rains.

The coalition hopes to spread information about small steps that could go a long way.

One of the early TV spots features Wappler raking leaves off a storm-drain grate and encouraging residents to do the same. A combination of rain, wind and falling leaves creates an opportunity for flooding as storm drains get clogged and impede runoff.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) promotes an "adopt a drain" program. Volunteers are asked to help remove dirt, silt and debris from the top of the drains.

Residents can pick up free cleanup supplies at SPU's warehouse at 3633 E. Marginal Way S. from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 24 and 31, and at Seattle Municipal Tower on Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle on Oct. 28 and 29. For more information, call 206-233-7187 or e-mail adoptadrain@seattle.gov.

Richard Seven: 206-464-2241 or rseven@seattletimes.com