Summary

Due to continued cold weather conditions and dangerous roads, residents are urged to use caution while traveling or commuting to work and to use public transportation or telecommute if possible. Individuals should take their time and be patient, and emphasize safety over getting to a destination quickly.

Story

Due to continued cold weather conditions and dangerous roads, residents are urged to use caution while traveling or commuting to work and to use public transportation or telecommute if possible. Individuals should take their time and be patient, and emphasize safety over getting to a destination quickly.

King County Operations: Some King County agencies are reporting closed operations today. Updated closures are posted online. These agencies include:

• District Court is closed
• Superior Court is closed
• Office of the Public Defender is closed
• Department of Judicial Administration is closed
• The King County Council will open at 10:00 a.m.
• The King County Aquatic Center is closed
• The Vashon Island Solid Waste Transfer Station is now open (Updated Nov. 24, 10:30 a.m.)
  
• Contracting companies Allied Waste and Waste Management plan limited residential collections today. King County transfer stations other than Vashon Island will open at 8 a.m.

First Responders: First responders and mission critical staff are expected to report to their work location as usual. This includes, but is not limited to, corrections officers, 9-1-1 call center operators, emergency personnel, security staff, and certain senior managers.

King County residents may be able to obtain some services online, such as pet licensing, car tabs, marriage licenses by mail, property tax payments, business licensing and more.

Public Health Centers: The Renton dental clinic will be closed today. Anyone seeking a service at a Public Health Center or other Public Health location today should call the facility number to find out the status of the roads and sidewalks and service availability before leaving home. Contact information is available on the Public Health website at www.kingcounty.gov/health.

Metro Transit: King County Metro Transit will operate with buses on snow routes today, and is urging people to limit travel if at all possible. Road conditions are still icy. A complete list of bus routes that are on snow routing is available at: www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow.

Beware of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Power continues to be out in some parts of the region, including all of Vashon Island. We know that when power is out for extended periods, the risk of injury or death from carbon monoxide poisoning goes up. Protect yourself and your family by taking precautions:

During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate fuel-powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including the garage. Keep your generator away from open windows or vents while it is running.

• Do not cook or heat with charcoal barbeques inside your home.
• Avoid combustion "space heaters" unless there is an exhaust vent.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning. In some cases, physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include severe headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue. If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Call for medical help from a neighbor's home. The Fire Department will tell you when it is safe to reenter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit: https://kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/preparedness/disaster.aspx

If power goes out where you live, keep food safe: Keep the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible. This keeps the cold air inside. A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days; a half-full freezer about 1 day.

If you think the power will be out for several days, try to find some ice to pack inside your refrigerator. Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods. Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as the power is out no more than a few hours and the refrigerator/freezer doors have been kept closed. Throw away potentially hazardous foods (such as meat and fish) if they warm up above 41º F.

Frozen foods that remain frozen are OK to eat. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed (such as meat and fish), but are still cold or have ice crystals on them, you should use them as soon as possible. If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and are warmer than 41º F, you should throw them away.

Warming Facilities Throughout King County

Warming centers are available throughout King County. Facility locations are as follows:

King County Winter Shelters (nightly, all winter)
YWCA Angeline’s Center for Homeless Women
2030 3rd Avenue Belltown (between Lenora & Virginia)
9:30 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.
Capacity: 40
Serves women only

County Administrative Building
500 4th Avenue, Seattle
Hours of operation: 9:30 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Serves men only
Seattle

Warming Centers:
Family and Adult Service Center (daytime)
2015 3rd Avenue
Seattle

The Seattle Center House (daytime)

Overnight:
City Hall (through November 25)
Located on 4th Avenue between James and Cherry Streets
Seattle, WA
Doors open at 9:00 p.m.
Capacity: 75
Serves men, women and families

Frye Hotel (through November 25)
Located on 3rd and Yesler
Seattle, WA
Open at 8:00 p.m.
Capacity: 25
Serves only women

Seattle Center - Pavilion B (through November 25)
Located next to Key Arena - use east entrance
Opens at 9 p.m.
Capacity 100
Serves men and women

Auburn
Les Gove Park
1020 Deals Way, Auburn
Hours: 8 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Capacity: 20+
Men and women
In cooperation with Auburn Food Bank

Bellevue
Crossroads Community Center (through today)
16000 NE 10th St.
Bellevue, WA
Hours of operation: 8:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Serves men, women and families

Federal Way
New Hope Christian Fellowship Church (through Thursday morning)
31411 6th Ave S
Federal Way
Open 24 hrs
Capacity: 25/expandable
Men and Women

Kent
Kent Lutheran Church (through today)
336 2nd Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032-5849
Hours: 9 p.m. – 7 a.m.
Capacity: 50
Priority is given to homeless families with children, also available for single women and men
Operated by Catholic Community Services staff and volunteers

Renton
Renton Community Center (daytime warming)
6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
1715 SE Maple Valley Hwy.
Renton

Vashon Island
Penny Farcy Fire Training Center
10019 SW Bank Rd
Vashon Island
Open 5pm

Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (if needed)
15420 Vashon Hwy SW
Vashon Island