November 18, 2011 [9]
www.bothell-reporter.com • www.kenmore-reporter.com
LaNiña 2011
When snow hits, school-district officials have decisions to make By Andy Nystrom anystrom@bothell-reporter.com
This group of Northshore School District buses wasn’t going anywhere for a while during last year’s inclement weather. Courtesy photo
Northshore School District’s buses aren’t the only “well-oiled machines” in the area. When it comes to making crucial decisions about school closures or delays — or if and when those buses will roll — when inclement weather hits the region, the district superintendent and other officials are “raring to go,” said Leanna Albrecht, Northshore School District communications director. “It’s a well-thought-out process when we kick into gear,” said Albrecht, noting that by following www.schoolreport. org, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather forecast and media Web sites, coupled with the school-district transportation department’s reports, they make the call as to what the schedule will be like each day. Decisions may be made the night before or by 5:30-6 a.m.; crews are often assessing the roads by 3:30 a.m.
Last year, there were three snow days, Albrecht said; make-up days are added to the end of the school year. “It’s all about safety. Our buses transport 10,000 students twice a day. We ask, ‘Can the buses make it through?’” she added. In total, the district has a fleet of about 100 buses that tackle Northshore’s main and rural roads and many hills. According to Dan Vaught, executive director of support services, he’s been involved in making many weather-related decisions in his 23 years with the district. “We had years when we had no problems. And we had years when we were out of school for a week at a time,” he said. Albrecht and others on the decision-making crew are up and ready to spring into action by about 5 a.m. “We’re waiting for that call,” she said about how the weather will dictate how her day will start. If schools will be closed or [ more weather page 10 ]
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[10] November 18, 2011
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LaNiña 2011
Winterizing homes, businesses By the NW Insurance Council
Freezing temperatures, ice, snow and wind can devastate homes and businesses if they are not properly winterized. Winter storms are the thirdlargest cause of property loss in America, resulting in about $1.3 billion in insured losses annually, according to the Insurance
Information Institute. Winter weather-related losses such as burst pipes, wind damage, ice dams, frozen gutters and damage caused by the weight of ice or snow are covered under standard Homeowners Insurance and Business Owners policies. Damage caused by flooding is specifically excluded under standard home and busi-
ness insurance policies. Winterizing your home or business also eliminates many inconveniences caused by weather-related losses. “Even when you have insurance, the hassle of waiting for your home or business to be repaired can be avoided,” said Karl [ more freeze page 11 ]
This Northshore School District bus turned into a yellow icicle last year. Courtesy photo
[ WEATHER from page 9 ]
schedules delayed for the day, Albrecht will get the word out via the School Messenger system, which sends phone calls in English and Spanish to about 12,500 families and 1,500 staff members. Information is also posted on the district’s Web site (www. nsd.org), via television stations and at www. gov.link.org/storm. By phone, the district
information line is (425) 408-6001. Overall, there are about 19,000 students in the four high schools, seven junior high schools and 22 elementary schools in the Northshore area. (The district started using School Messenger last year; they also utilize the system for special announcements and major emergencies.) If no schedule change
information is posted, schools and buses are on their regular schedules, according to the district site. Vaught said that it’s a challenge for all involved as the weather reports roll in each day. They just try to be careful and “make the best decision we can.” “I have a definite respect for meteorologists and their abilities,” he said.
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November 18, 2011 [11]
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Newman, NW Insurance Council president. “It takes some work, but it’s definitely worth the effort to winterize your home.” Shut the door on Old Man Winter and protect your home or business by following these easy, doit-yourself tips: • Maintain gutters. Remove leaves, pinecones, sticks and other debris from gutters so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice dams from forming, which can push melting water under the roofing and into your attic. You also may consider installing gutter guards – screens that prevent
debris from entering the gutter and blocking drainpipes. • Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break and cause damage to your home or car. • Check insulation. Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. The water can re-freeze, allowing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof. • Maintain pipes. Wrap pipes with pipe insulation or heating tape and insulate unfinished rooms such as garages
that have exposed pipes. Also, check for cracks and leaks. Repair them immediately to prevent much costlier repairs. • Keep your house warm. During freezing weather, the temperature in your home should be at least 65 degrees. The air inside the walls where pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A room temperature below 65 degrees will not keep pipes from freezing. • Get to know your plumbing. Learn how to shut off the water and know where your home’s pipes are located. If pipes freeze, you may be able to prevent the pipes from bursting by taking
immediate action. Quickly shut off the water and direct your plumber to the problem. For more information on winterizing your home or business, visit the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and the Insurance Information Institute. To request a free copy of Surviving Severe Cold Weather, contact NW Insurance Council at (800) 664-4942 or visit www. nwinsurance.org
NW Insurance Council is a nonprofit, publiceducation organization funded by member insurance companies serving Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
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