With the snow still piled up alongside the road and more rain falling, city crews are switching their focus to preventing urban flooding. They’re working to clear storm drains so standing water doesn’t get a chance to collect.
“We are running all five plows right now trying to clear gutter lines. We have widespread ponding at blocked catch basins, but nothing significant at this point,” Les Rubstello from Lynnwood Public Works told us. “We will have a night crew come on at 7 p.m. and continue the fight.
In case it does flood, sand bags and sand are available to fill up and pick up at Fire Station 15.
City crews also have a few downed trees, which they’ll clear Saturday.
It’s a similar situation throughout Snohomish County, which is in charge of 50,000 catch basins.
“Snohomish County crews have done an excellent job keeping roads cleared during this weather event despite the difficult conditions,” County Executive Aaron Reardon said. “As rain continues, they turn toward keeping stormwater drains and catch basins clear to prevent urban flooding.”
Roads in residential areas are treated after higher-priority routes are cleared. Officials say residents can help by shoveling the snow away from grates in their neighborhoods when it’s safe to do so.
“We are running all five plows right now”. Five seems to be a low number for a big job. Granted, we aren’t known for large snow storms, but if the weather pattern of the last 10 years continues, we should expect this type of snow fall. The UW has done some research on this matter, and they say, harsher winters, more rain, and hotter summers. We’ll see about the hotter summers, but maybe the harsher winters are coming and the more rain is already here. This being said, maybe we pick up a couple more plows. Just in case.
Why would they need more snow plows, I never saw the ones they have in use till the snow melted. no sand on 188th or 44th. They all took the three day off. {MUST BE NICE} to work for the gov.