It has been five years since Seattle was slammed by the Dec.14 - 15 wind storm of 2006. Alki Beach recorded peak gusts of 67 miles per hour in the storm that brought down trees throughout the city, destroying power lines and leaving thousands of families without electricity for days.

Weather experts are predicting a cold, wet La Nina winter for the Pacific Northwest, prompting Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn to hold a press conference on Nov. 2 to discuss city improvements since 2006 to better respond, and encourage residents to take precautionary measures just in case the power goes out again.

In a press release from the Mayor’s office, McGinn said half of Seattle City Light’s distribution system was knocked down in 2006, prompting them to install “a computerized outage management system to coordinate restoration work and customer communication.” The new system provides estimates for power restoration, sets up automated calls when power is restored (for customers that opt in), and a more agile system of adding crew resources to areas in need of restoration.

In addition, McGinn said City Light has been vigilant in their tree trimming around power lines. “This year along, City Light has cleared vegetation from about 450 miles of power lines,” according to the press release.

“Our power utility is committed to responding to the public when outages occur,” McGinn said, “But we need your help. I encourage Seattle residents to think ahead and prepare for any possible power outages.”

Here are some pointers directly from the City:

•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;

•City Light is 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. The City needs your current phone number – both home and cell – in order to respond to your call.

Now is the time for all of us to prepare for winter storms. Start by building an emergency preparedness kit that contains at least three days of food and water for everyone in your home, including pets. Other items to add include a flashlight, radio, space blanket and warm clothes.

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