As the City of Seattle continues its winter storm response and prepares for forecasted significant accumulations of snow Wednesday. Forecasters now say that Seattle will get only a small amount today but are predicting an amount in excess of 6 to 11 inches tomorrow morning.

Mayor Mike McGinn activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 7 a.m. today. The EOC’s Joint Information Center activated at 5:30 a.m. this morning.

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has trucks out to keep major arterial streets clear with priority given to routes for emergency vehicles, to hospitals. Crews are mostly using granular salt and have been throughout the preparation process. Though major arterial streets are bare and wet, the City continues to urge that road users use caution during their commute. SDOT crews will continue to monitor street conditions and trouble spots throughout the day in anticipation of the coming winter storm. Salt and salt-brine were applied overnight in many areas as a preventative measure in anticipation of forecasted freezing temperatures.

As the City prepares for the coming winter storm, residents are also urged to prepare for record snowfall in Seattle if they have not done so already.

The City of Seattle recommends that residents:

· Consider options now for travel, staying off the roads if possible.
· Move cars off streets, if possible, to aid with snow removal.
· Check on neighbors, especially the vulnerable.
· Wrap pipes and outdoor faucets to prevent ruptured pipes and flooding inside homes.
· Turn faucets to a slow drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
· Be careful how they choose to heat or light their homes. Open flames and unattended candles are dangerous. Do not bring open stoves or gas grills inside as the fumes can be poisonous and deadly.
· Find and clear street storm drains. Snow followed by rain can clog drains and cause flooding.
· Have coats, hats, gloves and blankets at hand to stay warm during possible power outages.
· Bring pets indoors.
· Only call 911 in a life-threatening emergency.
· The following is a directory of non-emergency helplines: http://www.kingcounty.gov/LinksByZip

SDOT’s Winter Weather page at http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/winterweather.htm includes maps of the City’s snow routes and real-time information on road conditions.

For information on public transportation options, please visit King County Metro (http://www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow) and Sound Transit (http://www.soundtransit.org/Schedules/Alerts/Winter-Weather.xml). Riders are encouraged to check bus status online as conditions may change rapidly.

Many sidewalks are icy. Pedestrians should use caution while walking and crossing streets. It is the responsibility of property owners to keep their sidewalks clear of ice to protect pedestrian safety.