Stay informed and be prepared for cooler weather
With cooler temperatures and rainy weather upon us, King County wants to help you stay safe at work, at home, and on your commute. If you work on site, please be prepared for inclement weather. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight. Read more.
Knowing your role during winter weather and emergencies
Being prepared for an emergency helps us to keep one another safe and to continue providing essential services to the people of King County. In the case of a significant disaster or emergency, county leaders must prioritize which functions and services will be provided, and which can be delayed or suspended. This prioritization informs King County’s employee emergency designations. Executive branch departments are in the process of communicating employee emergency designations to their employees using three designations. Read more.
Don’t be caught off guard: Possible flooding risk early in the King County flood season
Crossposted from Keeping King County Green Seasonal weather predictions for this fall and winter predict a pattern similar to last year, including, an enhanced risk of snow and possible flooding early in the season, followed by neutral conditions later in winter and early spring. No matter what seasonal forecasts call for, the fact remains that flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County. If you live, work, play, or commute through King County, don’t be caught off guard – just a few inches of floodwater can cause damage to your… Read More
Test of KCInform employee alert and warning system on Oct. 16
King County will conduct a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system, on Thursday, Oct. 16 between 9 and 10 a.m. as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness. Employees will receive test messages from KCInform via phone, text, and email. KCInform is used to notify County employees of emergency situations, infrastructure disruptions, facility closures, changes in department business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email address are already in the KCInform system. However, please register your County provided cell phone (if applicable)… Read More
Emergency preparedness: Stay informed and get involved
September is National Preparedness Month and King County wants to help you, your family, and community prepare for emergencies, and stay safe if one occurs. Making a plan and building a kit are key elements in emergency preparedness along with: Stay Informed: Know who to turn to for updates, alerts, and warnings during an emergency Get Involved: Talk to your neighbors about sharing resources during an emergency Whether you’re at home or at work trying to provide essential King County services during an emergency, staying informed and getting involved is critical. They can make a difference in how well and how… Read More
Emergency Kits: Why they’re important
September is National Preparedness Month and King County wants to help you, your family, and community prepare for emergencies, and stay safe if one occurs. To prepare for an emergency, use the Get Ready King County fillable workbook to create a plan. This step-by-step workbook guides you through the resources and items you need. Your plan should include emergency kits for your home, vehicle, and workplace. They should include two weeks’ worth of supplies. Read more.
Preparing for emergencies in National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month and King County wants to help you stay safe – and keep your family and community safe – in the event of an emergency. The best time to prepare for a natural disaster or emergency is before it happens. Here are some steps you can take to be more prepared: Make a plan workbook: Use the Get Ready King County fillable workbook to start (or continue) your preparedness journey. The step-by-step workbook guides you through the resources and items you need to be ready for an emergency. Personal and family… Read More
New intranet homepage for employee safety, security, and emergency preparedness resources
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to remind people that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. As part of this year’s King County Preparedness Month employee campaign, King County has launched a new tool for employees. It’s a new intranet homepage or one-stop-shop for King County employees to find all links to campus safety and security, safety at work, and emergency management webpages on kingcounty.gov and the intranet. The goal of the new homepage is to help King County employees to find… Read More
Firefighters train for real emergencies with rope rescue drill at South Plant
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories No need for alarm. This is only a drill! On a recent morning at our South Treatment Plant in Renton, about 30 firefighters and instructors, outfitted with helmets and harnesses, gathered around a service hatch in the Raw Sewage Pump Building to assess a developing situation. What they encountered was the scene of a high-stakes rescue operation. Their air monitors showed that below the first level, the air was unsafe to breathe, and two individuals were unconscious and in need of rescue. The team quickly got to… Read More
Fire Marshal issues Stage 1 Burn Ban, restricting yard debris fires and fires set to clear land in unincorporated areas
Crossposted from King County Local With the dry season fast approaching, King County Fire Marshal Eric Urban has issued a Stage 1 Burn Ban for the unincorporated areas of King County. This ban, which prohibits yard debris fires and fires set to clear land, takes effect Monday at 12:01 a.m., June 30. The ban is being issued in conjunction with the King County Fire Chiefs Association and King County Fire Marshals Association. It does not apply to recreational fires or gas/propane appliances, including grills, pellet smokers, or charcoal grills. Expected periods of higher… Read More
Employee News 