December 2008 Storm --consolidation thread (Bellevue, Kirkland: income, maintenance, income tax)

[Woof]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

I really hope the power doesn't go out, I have a 14 month old and a 13 day old at home.

I't's not so hard to prepare for electrical outages, Veronika, and hoping they won't happen probably will not work.

Layers of warm clothing - NO COTTON!

LED flashlights, big and small such as keychain, maybe a lantern.

good sleeping bags, rated down to 15 or 20F.

canned foods, trail mix, crackers .... the "hearty" kind of grain breads will usually last a good few days. Chocolate and hot chocolate of course.

Propane cooking stove, cook near an open window.

Oh, and don't open the freezer, your food will stay frozen a couple of days at least if unopened.

Entertainment thingies.

[toughguy]

Originally Posted by VeronikaW

I really hope the power doesn't go out, I have a 14 month old and a 13 day old at home.

I have a 3 year old and an 18 day old. Luckily, the grandparents live a couple miles away, and their power rarely goes out, because their power lines are buried underground in their neighborhood.

[seattlenextyear]

http://blog.cleveland.com/photos/d055def59534e41d560257ea25234f9b.jpg (broken link)

moove to seattle, he sez
mild temperatures, he sez
dunt even need winter jaket, he sez



time to find new hooman

[VBP]

Hi all,

I am new to the Seattle area. We(my husband, infant kid and I) live in the Bellevue crossroads area, and need to get to SEATAC airport Monday morning. We have an SUV. What is the safest way to get there? The Airport Shuttle Express is not offering door-to-door service that morning. We dont have much experience driving in the snow, and we dont have chains. We will have some luggage (baby stuff).Which do you think is the best option?
(A). Take a chance and drive to the airport.
(B). Take a cab. Dont know if cabs will be operating then.
(C). Take a BUS to 116Av NE, where the AirportShuttleExpress has a pickup point. Bus stop to pickup point is a 0.3 mi walk. I worry about walking 0.3 mi in the snow with a child AND luggage.
(D). Take a CAB to 116Av NE, where the AirportShuttleExpress has a pickup point. Will cabs be running? Dont know.
(E). Use the Bus. We will have to change buses at the Bellevue Transit Center. Do you think the buses will be running monday morning?

I welcome any suggestions or your experiences of Puget Sound public transport in snow conditions.

Thank you!
VBP.

[VeronikaW]

Is your SUV 4 wheel drive? If it is, I'd drive to the airport. If not, I wouldn't drive it without chains. Otherwise, I'd try to take a cab if they're running. Not sure what the bus schedule would be like. Your safest bet might be going to stay at a hotel near the airport on Sunday night.

Good luck and be safe!

V. =)

[VeronikaW]

Originally Posted by toughguy

I have a 3 year old and an 18 day old. Luckily, the grandparents live a couple miles away, and their power rarely goes out, because their power lines are buried underground in their neighborhood.

Lucky. We will have to go find a hotel if our power goes out. Oh, and congrats on your new arrival.

[allforcats]

Since you don't know how to drive in snow and you have no chains, your chances of arriving at SeaTac are nil. DO NOT DRIVE IN ICE AND SNOW until you take lessons and then buy chains.

Phone for a taxi: phone the evening before and reserve a taxi for the next morning. Northwest Taxi or Yellow Cab. If the roads have ice and snow on them, you will likely have to wait an hour or two for a taxi if you do not make an advance reservation.

Or take the bus. Metro will be running -- Metro is always running -- but they may have very, very reduced service depending on how completely icy the roads are. Again, long, long waits may happen -- hours, like today.

Or I have another idea: Shuttle Express. I always take them to and from SeaTac (I'm in Bellevue).
Shuttle Express Seatac Airport Shuttle Seattle - Limo Service - Shuttle Service - Airport Transportation - Town Car (http://www.shuttleexpress.com/index.html - broken link)
Fabulous service! You MUST make reservations.

In any case, be absolutely certain that you allow 2 hours for travel time alone between Crossroads and SeaTac, PLUS the 2 hours you must arrive before flight time. This is a region of hills, and going by any method will be horrendous if the roads are the way they are today.

PHONE YOUR AIRLINE'S 800 NUMBER EVERY 4 HOURS STARTING SUNDAY EVENING TO FIND OUT WHEN OR IF YOUR FLIGHT WILL REALLY LEAVE.

I wish you well. DON'T DRIVE -- you don't know how. That's what professionals are for.

[VBP]

Thank you all VeronikaW and AllForCats for your suggestions. Based on your feedback, have decided to take a cab or a bus to the Airport Shuttle Express pick up point. Thank you! VBP

[seattlenextyear]

Do you need chains here because of the hills? I grew up in IcySnowtown, NY and never saw a car with chains on it until 2 days ago.

[MaikeerinWA]

You need tire chains for traction on mountainous roads that are snowy/icy and steep. The state patrols will require their use on the interstates at certain times over mountain passes like those in the Cascades, Sierra Nevadas, Rockies, etc. I personally don't see them very often in the city.

They changed certain laws for studded snow tires in WA a while back, but I don't remember what the changes were all about.