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. The City has limited equipment to clear sidewalks, so the process will be slow. The snowfall that occurred 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. 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. Businesses and residents are asked 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, it may take two or more weeks for the snow to melt from them. The Public Works crew will continue to work 24 hours a day in 12 hour shifts through Friday, February 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. 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.
If residents are looking for services to help them with snow removal, please contact the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce at 360-683-6197 or info@sequimchamber.com or the North Peninsula Builders Association (NPBA) at 360-452-8160.
As the snow begins to melt, the City anticipates that 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.
The City recognizes that some people have been snowed in for many days. If anyone needs a welfare check on their neighbors and cannot complete it themselves, please contact the Sequim Police non-emergency dispatch line at (360) 683-7227. If there is an emergency, please call 9-1-1. For other non-emergency needs, residents are encouraged to call the 2-1-1 resource line https://www.unitedwayclallam.org/activities/support-2-1-1.
Residents are reminded that Monday, February 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 due to warmer temperatures the temporary daytime warming center, located at the Sequim Transit Center, will close after Thursday, February 14.