The City of Sequim Public Works crew will begin to clear sidewalks in priority corridors as soon as they have finished removing as much slush as possible off of city streets, City of Sequim officials said today (Thursday, Feb. 14).
“The city has limited equipment to clear sidewalks, so the process will be slow,” the city said in a press release today — noting that snowfall in the past week is equal to three years of total average snowfall for Sequim, all occurring in seven days.
“The Sequim Public Works Department is not equipped to handle a snowfall of this scale immediately, as equipping to the level of a 25-year storm for each year is not a financially responsible decision,” city officials said.
“Crews have done a heroic job on the roads, but their equipment is better scaled for road removal of snow of this magnitude than for sidewalk removal.”
The city is asking business owners and residents to help by clearing the sidewalks in front of their properties, and to assist neighbors who are unable to do so.
Without clearing the snow off sidewalks, they said, it may take two or more weeks for the snow to melt from them.
The Public Works crew is scheduled to work 24 hours a day in 12 hour shifts through Friday, Feb. 15.
“We ask for the patience of residents as this weather event occurred out of the city’s control and all of us are doing our best to return things to normal,” city officials said. “Things will not be fully back to normal on the city’s sidewalks for a while; however, we can get closer to normal by working together.
Residents seeking help with snow removal are encouraged to contact the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce at 360-683-6197 or info@sequimchamber.com or the North Peninsula Builders Association at 360-452-8160.
Flooding possible
The City of Sequim anticipates that as the snow begins to melt there may be some urban flooding. Crew members have begun locating and clearing storm drains to help keep the melt water off the streets.
Residents and business owners are asked to assist by clearing the storm drains near their property.
Residents should contact the City at 360-683-4908 with any flooding concerns during normal business hours and at 360-683-7227 after business hours.
Drivers are asked to continue to slow down and drive with caution, and to pay special attention to pedestrians and bicyclists.
“We encourage anyone who does need to walk or bicycle to avoid doing so in the vehicle lane of traffic until more snow has melted,” city officials said today.
Some residents have been snowed in for many days, city officials said. Those seeking a welfare check on neighbors and cannot complete it themselves are asked to contact the Sequim Police non-emergency dispatch line at 360-683-7227.
In case of an emergency, call 9-1-1; for other non-emergency needs, residents are encouraged to call the 2-1-1 resource line (see www.unitedwayclallam.org/activities/support-2-1-1).
Residents are reminded that Monday, Feb.y 18 is President’s Day and city offices will be closed. However, city staff are on call and can be notified through public safety dispatch if there is need for further storm response.
Daytime Warming Center to close
Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) has announced that because of warmer temperatures, the temporary daytime warming center at the Sequim Transit Center will close after Thursday, Feb. 14.
