UPDATED: Councilmember Pat Vache' responds to neighborhood tree hazard

Sidewalk roped off from a tree hanging on wires

UPDATED:  In late January, mothers walked their children down this hill to school, many unaware of the blue spruce leaning over their heads, balanced on utility lines.

Yes, the third wave of our January snow, ice and rain storm was hard on neighborhoods.  It took four days to close this sidewalk on Education Hill and seven days to remove the tree hazard.  Fortunately, neighbors pressed; and no one was hurt.

City and utility companies were slow to respond, despite the imminent danger.   Various distraught neighbors called 911, the mayor's office and utility companies.  Public Works identified the wires as "harmless phone lines" owned by Comcast saying, "it is their responsibility to remove the tree."   Two Pubic Works employees and a police officer looked it over and "walked on," according to an Education Hill resident, John.
 

 Frustrated and upset, John emailed city councilman and Ombudsman Pat Vache' on January 31,   John wrote Pat, "I cannot believe how hard it's been to get Redmond's attention on this."  (John had called 911 twice, PSE and several neighbors on January 27.)  Another neighbor called Comcast and walked them to the site.  The tree was finally removed February 2 after city Ombudsman-of-the-month Pat Vache' stepped in and had the sidewalk barriers installed.  Mr. Vache' went out of his way to help us.  Read More >>

Tune into Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 for severe weather and traffic alerts

Tune into Redmond Community Radio AM 1650 for severe weather and traffic advisories.

Reception is best from vehicle radios.  24/7.
Look for AM 1650 road closure signs.

UPDATED: Redmond Safety Alerts

Municipal Emergency Response
Command and Control Room

 UPDATED:  This blog may serve as a  volunteer "communications hub" (node) connecting  neighborhoods and local jurisdictions for purposes of emergency preparedness and response.  RNB is not sanctioned by the City but my services are available much like our local "ham radio operators."

Whenever possible, Redmond Neighborhood Blog (RNB) cooperates with local jurisdictions and neighborhoods to assist in emergency response and disaster preparedness during severe events. Prolonged power blackouts, explosions, severe weather conditions, widespread flooding, severe traffic congestion and re-routing are the more likely emergencies in Greater Redmond.  Earthquakes, pandemics, terrorist alerts, volcanic eruptions an other disasters are unlikely though the City and citizens must be prepared.  
 
During the Rose Hill PSE explosive fire, RNB posted updates to educate and calm the community on this sudden, smokey, grid-locked event.  Some commuters and pedestrians clicked on their Internet devices - found RNB and were advised by RNB to tune into Redmond Community Radio AM 1650  for traffic advisories and event news.  It runs 24/7. 

During the event I called Mayor Marchione requesting AM 1650  "community news" be replaced with real time  "emergency response news".   Since then the mayor personally assured me staff improved the availability, emergency content and response time for AM 1650 announcements.  We are fortunate to have a well "tuned-in" and responsive mayor.  Traditional and online news media attracted to disaster events with helicopters and other means can give heightened awareness of AM 1650 and can broadcast it's availability.  Media advertising can be filtered out and their widespread coverage can be reliably relayed by Redmond's "Command and Control Center" to citizens in their cars!   Here's an rare video showing Redmond's Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) and "EARS."  For additional details Read RNB's 2008 advisory post, "What's the Best Kept Secret in Redmond?." 

AM 1650 reception is best in vehicles and is especially valuable during power black-outs and when battery-powered radios are unavailable.  Citizens are invited to send photos, emails, social media news, and general observations that I may post for readers, with the disclaimer particular news may not have as yet been verified.  RNB will route your news and photos to Redmond's ECC for their review and response.  NOAA, Evergreen Hospital Emergency Response, King County Public Health, State Department of Ecology, Kirkland and other jurisdictions may exchange news, information and response with Redmond's ECC and Redmond Neighborhood Blog.  Read More >>