Major Snowstorm Hits Spokane, EOC Activated

Spokane County opened an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) today at 2 p.m. to handle the snow emergency. More than a foot of new snow has fallen in some areas of Spokane County, and more is expected during the next 72 hours.

Emergency personnel have been very busy with calls over the weekend. City and County street crews have been working around the clock plowing snow emergency routes, arterials, and residential hills. Residential streets are increasingly snowbound. City and County crews have 115 pieces of equipment out on the road.

City and County officials currently are prioritizing arterials and secondary arterials that haven’t been plowed yet.

About 4,000 residences were without power throughout the region at 6 p.m. Sunday. Avista Corp. and Inland Power & Light crews are working to restore power. Citizens are asked to report downed power lines and outages by calling their power company. Avista’s number is 1-800-227-9187, and Inland Power’s number is 1-877-6-OUTAGE.

Emergency personnel are asking citizens to do the following:

• Stay at home, if at all possible.
  
• Do not approach downed power lines, and don’t knock snow off of the lines.
  
• Clear snow away from fire hydrants.
  
• Check on your neighbors who may need help.
  
• The City of Spokane and Spokane County will be operating essential services only on Monday, Jan. 28. All non-essential employees at the City and County should stay home.
  
  
• The Spokane County Courthouse will be open, but Spokane City Hall will be closed. The City Council will not meet on Monday. Garbage pickup is expected to proceed as normal in the City. County residents should call their local garbage provider for service information.
  
  
• Some school districts have announced closures for tomorrow, and the rest of the schools continue to evaluate the weather and will make their own determination.
  
  
• Spokane Transit Authority (STA) is running buses on their normal routes and schedules.
  
  
• If citizens have an emergency, they should call 9-1-1. If they have a non-emergency, but still urgent, need or question, they may call the Spokane County phone bank at (509) 477-2304.