WINTER SAFETY TIPS

Please use caution at the Cedar Falls entrance to Wilderness Rim as this is a steep hill. Allow the car in front of you to get to the bottom of the hill and turn onto Cedar Falls Road before you go down the hill. Use this same method when driving the steepest parts out through the Uplands during winter driving conditions.

Insulate exposed pipes, water faucets and water meters. Closing or covering air vents located in foundation walls of crawl spaces can also help prevent pipes from being exposed to freezing air. If you block all of the air vents, be sure you watch for condensation buildup in the crawl spaces.

Watch out for children sledding and playing in the snow, as well as walkers and joggers enjoying our winter wonderland.

Please drive safely and obey the posted limits. Our roads are generally wet and can get very icy.

Please remember that although there might be ice on Brewster Lake, it is not thick enough to support much weight. Please watch your children and pets carefully to ensure everyone’s safety. Please stay off the ice.

Any questions regarding road conditions can be answered by calling King County Road Service Maintenance at 206-296-8100. The number is in service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have not joined the Facebook Page (not a WRA page) called Wilderness Rim Winter Road Conditions Watch you might want to do so. The page is very active and neighbors are helpful in keeping members up to date.

WSDOT provides a downloadable Winter Driving Guide, mobile apps, twitter posts and other useful tools at www.wsdot.wa.gov/winter.

Are you ready for a power outage?

When the cloudy, rainy and snowy days return, being prepared for long power outages and bad road conditions just makes sense.

Should you become aware of a downed power line call 1-888-225-5773 to report it.  Do not approach downed power lines.

Here are some basic “be prepared” ideas to keep in mind.

• Water; 1 gallon per person per day. Store enough for three days at a minimum.
• Food; Include non-perishable canned and dry goods, such as soups or stews, granola bars, protein bars, and important “comfort” foods like cookies and candy. Remember your pets’ needs too!
• Batteries; plenty of batteries, for radios, flashlights, lamps and such.
• Extra set of clothes with sturdy shoes or boots. Extra outerwear.
• Flashlight; It is advisable to have several on hand, including larger flashlights that can light up a room if necessary. A headlamp can keep hands free for working.
• Whistle; A good whistle can attract the attention of others for help.
• First aid kit; including a minimum three day supply of any prescription drugs you might need.
• Entertainment items; like a deck of cards, or good old fashioned games. Games can be useful when your television and video games don’t work for a week.
• Cash; ATMs won’t operate if the power is out, so it is helpful to have some cash on hand.
• Shelter-in-place items; such as tarps, and lots of duct tape.
• Duffel bag to carry items during an evacuation.
• Gas; for those who have purchased gas generators, although some if not all the gas stations have purchased large generator to run their pumps, if you have a safe place to store it, stocking up on a little gas is a good idea.

More great idea on winter preparedness are available at safeinthesound.org which is provided by the American Red Cross.