By now, you have probably heard about the heavy winds and rain in the forecast. Just step outside, you’ll feel the gusts. There’s clearly a storm rolling in.
To help you best prepare for your afternoon and morning commutes during this major “atmospheric river,” we have a few tips from our SPD Traffic Unit and from our City of Seattle colleagues. Drive safe, fuel (or charge) up, and download that podcast you have been waiting to listen to because it might take a while to get home.
Seattle Police Capt. Randy Ward:
“When you’re on the road give additional room between you and the car in front of you and understand visibility will be reduced in these weather conditions. If you see any power lines down or debris in the roadway carefully drive around them.”
Seattle Department of Transportation:
With the heavy rain, please take it slow and give yourself extra stopping distance. Avoid driving through standing water — even a few inches can hide hazards or stall your vehicle. And if it’s safe to do so, clearing leaves off storm drains near your home or business really helps keep water moving and prevent minor flooding on your block. Report roadway hazards like flooding or fallen trees to 684-ROAD or through the Find It Fix It app. If there’s an immediate danger, call 911.
Seattle Public Utilities:
- Sign up for Alert Seattle: This is the City of Seattle’s Emergency Alert System
- For emergencies, always call 911.
- If you see urgent flooding, sewer backups or sewer overflows, a blocked culvert or creek, or high-tide inundation, please call Seattle Public Utilities’ 24/7 Operations Response Center at (206) 386-1800.
- When you call, provide your name, address, contact information, the address of issue, and general information about the issue. During heavy storms, you may not be contacted directly by or see the crew that is working on the problem. Crews move quickly to resolve issues.
- Practice storm drain care: Reduce flooding with leaf and debris free drains.