We were contacted from local county officials requesting us to post information to help our readers regarding the potential winter weather:

Are you prepared?  Steps to stay safe in this weekend’s storm

With high winds forecast for this weekend and possible power outages, it’s time to take steps to stay save and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

How to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide can kill you or cause serious injury.  Carbon monoxide gas comes from burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, oil, kerosene, natural gas, coal or wood.  Here are some steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Never use a gas or charcoal grill, hibachi, or portable propane heater to cook indoors or heat your home.
• During a power outage or at any other time, do not operate fuel-powered machinery such as a generator indoors, including in the garage.
• Avoid combustion “space heaters” unless there is an exhaust vent.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can strike suddenly and without warning.  In some cases, physical symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include splitting headache, nausea and vomiting, and lethargy and fatigue.  If you believe you could be experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately.  Call for medical help from a neighbors home.  The fire department will tell you when it’s safe to reenter the home.

For a full list of carbon monoxide prevention tips and other safety and disaster information in English and other languages, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/disaster

Other important safety tips

• Make sure you are wearing enough warm clothing before going outdoors.  Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
• If you think power will be out for several days, check with your city for location of warming shelters.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia-slurred speech, confusion, uncontrollable shivering, stumbling, drowsiness and body temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or less.  Get medical help immediately if you think someone has frostbite or hypothermia.
• Check on elderly friends, family, and neighbors to make sure they are safe.
• If power goes out where you live, keep food safe by keeping the doors closed on your refrigerators and freezers as much as possible.  A full freezer can stay at freezing temperatures about two days” a half-full freezer about 1 day.  Potentially hazardous foods, like meet and fish, should be discarded if thawed and warmer than 41 degrees.

Update: News Release from the City of Seattle

Wouldn’t it be cool if everyone wore one of these on Inauguration Day?

Yesterday many schools were closed with anticipation of snow…in Seattle, it missed us.  This morning, we made up for it!  There’s no doubt this is a “snow day”-much to the excitment of my teen.   I took this photo about an hour ago while I was taking my old Pug for his morning walk in Alki – West Seattle.  This snow, by the way, is perfect for building a snowman–nice and crunchy. 

I can’t help but wonder if our weather will impact year end closings with more snow in the forecast.  Hopefully everyone plans accordingly–especially with Christmas and New Year holidays coming up.

And on a business note, rates for 30 year fixed are currently 4.75% for 740+ credit (apr 4.875) based on $400,000 loan amount with a $500,000 sales price.  Priced with 1 point and 45 day lock.  Rates are higher than what I quoted yesterday morning by about 1 point in fee!  I’ll be posting updated mortgage rates here tomorrow morning!

Stay warm!

I just received an email from my CERT group coordinator (Certified Emergency Response Training) that due to weather conditions, a shelter is opening in Bellevue to handle the Special Needs population.  They are sorely in need of some volunteers, no training needed, to help staff the shelter.  It is located in the Crossroads area of Bellevue, and contact info to volunteer is at the end of this email.

As many of you know, my sister is in surgery over at Evergreen today, and I will be helping her after surgery as a guest in my home for at least a couple of days.  Since I can’t respond to the request by being a volunteer at this time for that reason, I am hoping that this message will reach enough of you to meet this immediate need. I may be able to jump in at the end of the schedule depending on how my sister is doing after surgery today.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED: Wed. 12/17, Thurs. 12/18, Sunday 11/21 and Monday the 22nd from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.  Staying awake during the entire shift is the request.  From the email: “Social Service agencies are handling all notifications to target populations.  Those who come to use the shelter may arrive and register between 9:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. and must leave by 6:30 a.m.  30-50 max people are expected.  A Kirkland mother and her children ages 7, 4, 2 and 1” are expected to arrive tonight, as example of the growing need for services and volunteers to staff the shelter.

Contact Info to Sign Up:

Cathryn Laird

Assistant Human Resources Director

City of Bellevue

425-452-6817

CLaird@bellevuewa.gov [mailto:CLaird@bellevuewa.gov]

I have some extra lights and decorations that I don’t want to keep packing up and storing every year 🙂  I called Hopelink here in Kirkland and they don’t know of a family that needs them, but people usually don’t go to places like that and say “I need a string of Christmas lights”.

If anyone knows of anyone who could use a little cheer and a few decorations, shoot me an email.  The closer to Kirkland or Green Lake the better.  I’m back and forth between the two frequently this week.

The Snohomish Valley at sunrise. ( Sunday, December 14, 2008. Looking South towards Mt. Rainier)