*12/22/08 - roads are extremely hazardous. try to stay away from all back-street hills, especially driving downhill. ice under snow. 4-wheel, 2-wheel, it doesn't matter.
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Due to severe weather the Puget Sound Blood Center is experiencing a critical shortage in blood.
Please stop at the regional donor centers (anytime this week or next) : http://www.psbc.org/programs/centers.htm
-- Communications Dept., City of Redmond
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Windstorm preparedness:
http://www.redmond.gov/disasterprep/winterstorms.asp
Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 works best from a car radio.
Tune into AM 1650 (which would mean you'd need a radio with batteries)--there is already information about windstorm preparedness and it will be updated regularly regarding warming centers, shelters, closures, and other information necessary to survive if the electricity goes out. Hopefully this won't happen, but please be prepared in case it does. -- Redmond Police
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STORM FORUM (EMAIL REDMONDBLOG@GMAIL.COM or "comment" and I will post your comment on this page)
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Due to severe weather the Puget Sound Blood Center is experiencing a critical shortage in blood.
Please stop at the regional donor centers (anytime this week or next) : http://www.psbc.org/programs/centers.htm
-- Communications Dept., City of Redmond
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Windstorm preparedness:
http://www.redmond.gov/disasterprep/winterstorms.asp
Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 works best from a car radio.
Tune into AM 1650 (which would mean you'd need a radio with batteries)--there is already information about windstorm preparedness and it will be updated regularly regarding warming centers, shelters, closures, and other information necessary to survive if the electricity goes out. Hopefully this won't happen, but please be prepared in case it does. -- Redmond Police
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STORM FORUM (EMAIL REDMONDBLOG@GMAIL.COM or "comment" and I will post your comment on this page)
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..... has the City contracted operators with heavy equipment to begin plowing access routes for not only trapped citizens but emergency vehicles such as fire and ambulance? There has been no mail delivery or garbage service on this street for over a week.I speak specifically of NE 105th Court. The residents at the bottom of this steep hill have hand shoveled two paths a block long so that those with 4WD vehicles can negotiate the hill.
--Loren, Education Hill neighbor
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from Mayor John Marchione
"Letter to the Editor"
I am very aware that the last week and a half has been very challenging for us at the City and, of course, for you as residents and business owners. The snow, freeze, thaw, snow cycle has stressed the City’s snow clearing capacity to its limits, and has severely impacted citizens ability to move about and through Redmond. As of Christmas Eve, we are still battling the elements.
To some residents it appears the City is doing very little to clear the roads; however, I assure you our Public Works crews are working around the clock and have been since this storm began. Since this type of sustained snowstorm is very rare (if not unprecedented), the City has invested in the proper amount of snow removal equipment for our more normal, much more limited, snow falls. Our three large and one small plow/sander trucks have been working the City’s streets in our established priority order. The highest priority is our arterioles and main thoroughfares. Once the main streets are plowed, we move on to plowing the secondary streets with cul-de-sacs being the lowest priority. With the almost daily snowfall and nightly freezing during this storm, it has been difficult to get beyond the highest priority areas.
Since I am also a resident living on one of the city’s largest hills, I understand your frustration with the outcomes of this storm. Not having a 4-wheel drive, I am also finding it difficult to move around. While some errands are required; along with the Redmond Police, I urge you to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary until we get some rain to wash this snow away. I also urge you to use the City’s communication tools, our website (www.redmond.gov), RCTV cable channel 21, and our new low-frequency Emergency Radio station, AM 1650, to keep updated on the latest closure information as well as tips on how to weather the storm.
This storm has caused a great deal of havoc and I want you to know that the City of Redmond is doing all it can to improve the roads. However, I also know that for those stuck in a cul-de-sac on a steep hill, that may be little comfort. I can only ask for your patience during this difficult event.
Despite these trials, I hope that your family is together (if only in spirit) and safe this holiday season. On behalf of all of us at City Hall, I wish you a happy holiday season and a very happy and healthy New Year.
Happy Holidays,
John Marchione, Mayor of Redmond
To some residents it appears the City is doing very little to clear the roads; however, I assure you our Public Works crews are working around the clock and have been since this storm began. Since this type of sustained snowstorm is very rare (if not unprecedented), the City has invested in the proper amount of snow removal equipment for our more normal, much more limited, snow falls. Our three large and one small plow/sander trucks have been working the City’s streets in our established priority order. The highest priority is our arterioles and main thoroughfares. Once the main streets are plowed, we move on to plowing the secondary streets with cul-de-sacs being the lowest priority. With the almost daily snowfall and nightly freezing during this storm, it has been difficult to get beyond the highest priority areas.
Since I am also a resident living on one of the city’s largest hills, I understand your frustration with the outcomes of this storm. Not having a 4-wheel drive, I am also finding it difficult to move around. While some errands are required; along with the Redmond Police, I urge you to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary until we get some rain to wash this snow away. I also urge you to use the City’s communication tools, our website (www.redmond.gov), RCTV cable channel 21, and our new low-frequency Emergency Radio station, AM 1650, to keep updated on the latest closure information as well as tips on how to weather the storm.
This storm has caused a great deal of havoc and I want you to know that the City of Redmond is doing all it can to improve the roads. However, I also know that for those stuck in a cul-de-sac on a steep hill, that may be little comfort. I can only ask for your patience during this difficult event.
Despite these trials, I hope that your family is together (if only in spirit) and safe this holiday season. On behalf of all of us at City Hall, I wish you a happy holiday season and a very happy and healthy New Year.
Happy Holidays,
John Marchione, Mayor of Redmond
12/24/08, per email from C.O.R. (color edits)
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Anonymous
Email or Call the City to Plow and Sand 104th East of Abbey. Public input regarding the City's snow and ice removal policy and procedures is welcome and can be voiced by calling 425-556-2821 or emailing pwops@redmond.gov.
--Anonymous "comment" December 23, 2008 3:51 PM
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Redmond Citizen said...
*I completely agree the initial conditions were not as dangerous as reported. However, the strategy employed by the city now has created a very hazardous situation. Through the natural thaw and freeze cycles, a layer of ice has formed on the compacted snow. In the past years, within a few days the hills were sanded. Our city’s lack of preparedness for the storm has stranded thousands of people. Unfortunately, this seems to have been by choice – a major thoroughfare like 104th not being plowed for 5 days.
-- Redmond Citizen
December 23, 2008 7:54 AM
How about a blog post where the community can share feedback on maintenance during the storm of 104th and 166th? For some folks - those make up 2 of five road closures - and they can legally not drive out of their homes without passing a "road closed" sign. I already emailed the mayor on this very subject with appropriate caveats regarding both safety, road priority, and plow allocation. The net is that a huge taxpayer base on Ed Hill is legally trapped with more snow on the way. Specifically, the neighborhoods feeding into 184th @ 104th.
- ANDY
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This may sound macho, but I'm from snowy Ohio and New York and if you drive smart the conditions aren't as hazardous as the City would like you to believe. (12/19) If you don't have front wheel drive or all-wheel drive then, I'd agree with the police and stay off the roads unless you're rear-wheel drive has cables or chains. Some tips from blizzard driving experience: 1) drive slowly, especially on down-hill curves , when turning, approaching intersections and when breaking. 2) when you begin driving test your traction once or twice by braking hard on a level road clear of cars, 3) use your lowest gear going down hills or icy roads to minimize breaking. 4) Usually the biggest road hazard are the cars around you! Look in your rear view mirror especially near intersections for fast moving cars that could skid into you. 5) As you start to drive up a hill, don't gun it or spin your wheels. Creep, creep, creep into a slow start. 6) leave 2-3x as much distance than usual between you and the car in front. 7) If a macho 4-wheeler is riding your back, pull over and let him pass (& crash)!
- BOB, 12/19
*I completely agree the initial conditions were not as dangerous as reported. However, the strategy employed by the city now has created a very hazardous situation. Through the natural thaw and freeze cycles, a layer of ice has formed on the compacted snow. In the past years, within a few days the hills were sanded. Our city’s lack of preparedness for the storm has stranded thousands of people. Unfortunately, this seems to have been by choice – a major thoroughfare like 104th not being plowed for 5 days.
-- Redmond Citizen
December 23, 2008 7:54 AM
How about a blog post where the community can share feedback on maintenance during the storm of 104th and 166th? For some folks - those make up 2 of five road closures - and they can legally not drive out of their homes without passing a "road closed" sign. I already emailed the mayor on this very subject with appropriate caveats regarding both safety, road priority, and plow allocation. The net is that a huge taxpayer base on Ed Hill is legally trapped with more snow on the way. Specifically, the neighborhoods feeding into 184th @ 104th.
- ANDY
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This may sound macho, but I'm from snowy Ohio and New York and if you drive smart the conditions aren't as hazardous as the City would like you to believe. (12/19) If you don't have front wheel drive or all-wheel drive then, I'd agree with the police and stay off the roads unless you're rear-wheel drive has cables or chains. Some tips from blizzard driving experience: 1) drive slowly, especially on down-hill curves , when turning, approaching intersections and when breaking. 2) when you begin driving test your traction once or twice by braking hard on a level road clear of cars, 3) use your lowest gear going down hills or icy roads to minimize breaking. 4) Usually the biggest road hazard are the cars around you! Look in your rear view mirror especially near intersections for fast moving cars that could skid into you. 5) As you start to drive up a hill, don't gun it or spin your wheels. Creep, creep, creep into a slow start. 6) leave 2-3x as much distance than usual between you and the car in front. 7) If a macho 4-wheeler is riding your back, pull over and let him pass (& crash)!
- BOB, 12/19
I completely agree the initial conditions were not as dangerous as reported. However, the strategy employed by the city now has created a very hazardous situation. Through the natural thaw and freeze cycles, a layer of ice has formed on the compacted snow. In the past years, within a few days the hills were sanded. Our city’s lack of preparedness for the storm has stranded thousands of people. Unfortunately, this seems to have been by choice – a major thoroughfare like 104th not being plowed for 5 days.
ReplyDeleteEmail or Call the City to Plow and Sand 104th East of Abbey.
ReplyDeletePublic input regarding the City's snow and ice removal policy and procedures is welcome and can be voiced by calling 425-556-2821 or emailing pwops@redmond.gov.
Be sure to pack a shovel in your trunk! I was able to navigate Avondale and DT Redmond okay, I got stuck on the way home going up my hill in the English Hill area. It was warm enough for the ice and snow layers to be very mushy. My hubby was easily able to dig 'dry patches' along the road so that we eventually got the Civic home. I was shocked at the condition of Avondale. The stretch between 128th Way and 116th is quite good, but going towards the city is atrocious. It was my first time out in 5 days, I probably was out a day or two too soon for my car's capacity.
ReplyDeleteJim Bove, Police Community Relations, is the guy who needs to see our comments. jbove@redmond.gov. I know him from the Neighborhood Block Watch Program.
ReplyDeleteWe drove down to RTC to do some shopping and got caught in standstill traffic at 3:30. My Honda Pilot is a great snow car but the ice downtown was too much. I spun twice from a stop -- once leaving the parking garage; the other time entering Leary Way. I has to ask my daughter to get out of the car and push!
When I got home a neighbor was trying to dig his car out from the road. We got him out with a push and a shovel
I think it's high time our City brings out the big guns to the neighborhoods. A plow would have worked until cars have packed the snow down several inches of ice. When it rains these roads will become skating rinks.
ReplyDeleteIf our City lacks the proper equipment, has the City contracted operators with heavy equipment to begin plowing access routes for not only trapped citizens but emergency vehicles such as fire and ambulance. There has been no mail delivery or garbage service on this street for over a week.
I speak specifically of NE 105th Court. The residents at the bottom of this steep hill have hand shoveled two paths a block long so that those with 4WD vehicles can negotiate the hill.
At the top of the hill on 158th Ave NE, cars are stuck two deep in deep ruts. Access to NE 104th ST is limited to only those vehicles with high clearance.
Please put our neighborhood on the secondary road plow list if such a list exists.
Ed Hill Resident
We were left lost, and hopeless.
ReplyDeleteOur city, would not help us.
We relied--
on our friends and fellow city dwellers to
get out
and
around.
Our city, Public Works:
Worthless
in a snow storm like this...l