>>>
>>> I
>>> I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE LATEST SYSTEM TO PUMMEL
WESTERN WASHINGTON.
WESTERN WASHINGTON. >>> THIS IS DRONE VIDEO OF THE
SKAGIT RIVER SHOWING HOW MUCH
SNOW HAS FALLEN IN ONE OF THE
HARDEST HIT AREAS THIS WEEK.
>>> NOW AT 5:00, WE ARE
MONITORING THE CRISIS ALONG
HIGHWAY 2. SUPPLIES ARRIVE
TODAY HELPS RESIDENTS WHO HAVE
BEEN WITHOUT POWER FOR DAYS.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION FLEW A
HELICOPTER ABOVE THE BLOCKADE.
I'M JOYCE TAYLOR.
>> I'M MARK WRIGHT.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE, PEOPLE
IN THAT AREA ARE PRETTY UPSET.
SOME BLAME THE GOVERNOR FOR A
SLOW RESPONSE.
SLOW RESPONSE. SO WE ASKED GOVERNOR INSLEE
FOR ANSWERS.
FOR ANSWERS. CHRIS DANIELS HAS THE
GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE.
GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE. BUT WE BEGIN WITH ERIC
WILKINSON LIVE IN GOLD BAR
WITH HOW PEOPLE ARE COPING
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. >>
THERE. >> Reporter: MANY HERE HAVE
BEEN WITHOUT POWER SINCE LAST
FRIDAY.
FRIDAY.
FRIDAY. WITH FOOD AND FUEL IN SHORT
SUPPLY AND NO HELP FROM THE
GOVERNMENT IN SIGHT, PEOPLE
HERE TOOK MATTERS INTO THEIR
OWN HANDS.
OWN HANDS. LOADED WITH ALL THE PROVISIONS
THEY COULD CARRY.
A DOZEN TRUCKS MADE THE TRIP
UP STEVENS PASS TO HELP
NEIGHBORS IN NEED.
>> THERE ARE FOUR HOUSES ON
THE MOUNTAIN WITH NOTHING.
>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE LEFT SNOW BOUND WHEN
THE PASS CLOSED SUNDAY NIGHT
AS THE SNOW BROUGHT DOWN'S AN
POWER LINES.
POWER LINES. >> I HAVEN'T HAD POWER FOUR OR
FIVE DAYS.
FIVE DAYS. WATER, THREE DAYS.
I'M RUNNING ON A GENERATOR.
ONE PROPANE HEATER.
>> Reporter: PEOPLE IN
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES
NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES COLLECTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
IN DONATIONS.
IN DONATIONS. WATER, FOOD, FUEL, MAKING SURE
THESE TOTAL STRANGERS WERE
TAKEN CARE OF.
>> WE ARE A HARDY BUNCH.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, WE
GET IT DONE.
WE ASK FOR HELP ONCE AN GET IT
DONE OURSELVES.
DONE OURSELVES. >> Reporter: MANY OF THESE
FOLKS WILL BRING THE SUPPLIES
DEEPER INTO THE MOUNTAINS.
FOR NOW, THEY ARE GRATEFUL FOR
THE GENEROSITY OF THEIR
NEIGHBORS AND THE SIMPLICITY
OF SMALL TOWN SELF-
SUFFICIENCY.
SUFFICIENCY. >> IT BROUGHT ME TO TEARS YOU
KNOW.
KNOW.
KNOW. PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
THIS RESTORES ALL THE FAITH IN
HUMANITY I LOST.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE FROM
SKYKOMISH.
SKYKOMISH. >> THIS IS THE TYPE OF HELP
THAT JUST WARMS YOU.
>> Reporter: SOME ARE ASKING
WHETHER GOVERNOR INSLEE SHOULD
DO MORE.
DO MORE.
DO MORE. WITH MORE, LET'S BRING IN
CHRIS DANIELS.
CHRIS DANIELS. >> Reporter: GOVERNOR INSLEE
HAS SPOKEN WITH THE MAYORS OF
GOLD BAR AND SKYKOMISH AND
SAYS THEY NEVER SPECIFICALLY
ASKED FOR HELP DESPITE THE
STORIES YOU ARE HEARING
FURTHER UP THE ROAD.
AND HE IS DEFENDING THE
STATE'S RESPONSE.
STATE'S RESPONSE. IF YOU CAN'T DO IT ON THE
GROUND, WHY NOT ATTACK IT IN
THE AIR?
THE AIR?
THE AIR? THAT WAS THE STRATEGY FROM
WASH DOT THAT HAD CREWS FLYING
HELICOPTERS OVER HIGHWAY 2.
>> AND USE THE ROTO WASH TO
BLOW THE SNOW OUT OF THE
TREES.
TREES.
TREES. >>
TREES. >> Reporter: WASH DOT
SECRETARY TELLING KING 5 THE
AGENCY USED THE TECHNIQUE TO
LESSEN THE WEIGHT ON THE TREES
AN POWER LINES WHICH HAVE
CREATED THE EMERGENCY ON THE
HIGHWAY.
HIGHWAY.
HIGHWAY. TODAY, WASHINGTON GOVERNOR JAY
INSLEE DEFENDED THE STATE'S
RESPONSE IN AN EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW.
INTERVIEW. >> COULD THE STATE HAVE GOTTEN
IN THERE EARLIER?
>> THEY HAVE BEEN IN THERE
EARLIER.
EARLIER.
EARLIER. IT IS JUST RISKY TO THE CREWS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS AN
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CONVOY
DID BRING IN FUEL TO THE TOWN
OF SKYKOMISH WHICH HAS BEEN
ISOLATED BY THE WINTER BLAST
AND HE USED EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY TO FREE UP FUNDS FOR
THE RESPONSE.
THE RESPONSE. >> WE CAN'T HAVE ANY
PREDICTION OF THE EXACT TIME
BUT I THINK WE ARE EXERCISING
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT.
EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT. >> DO YOU FEEL THE STATE
QUICKLY REACTED IN THIS
SITUATION?
SITUATION? >> YES I DO.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY
ARE COMING FROM, TOO.
WHEN, YOU ARE WITHOUT POWER
AND WITHOUT ACCESS AND WITHOUT
COMMUNICATIONS, NOTHING IS
QUICK.
QUICK.
QUICK. >>
QUICK. >> ARE WE DAYS AWAY FROM
OPENING THE ROAD?
HOURS AWAY?
HOURS AWAY? >> THERE ARE DOZENS OF TREES
DOWN.
DOWN.
DOWN. THERE'S LIVE POWER LINES MIXED
IN WITH ALL OF THAT.
WE USED OUR EMERGENCY
CONTRACTING PROVISIONS TO
BRING IN TREE CUTTERS.
WE CUT TREES ON THE TEAMS.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE.
WE ARE BRINGING PRIVATE PEOPLE
IN TO HELP WITH THAT.
>> Reporter: YOU HEARD MILLAR
AND INSLEE REFER TO IT THERE.
THEY EXECUTED AN EXECUTIVE
AUTHORITY TO FREE UP FUNDING
SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO
THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS TO
ALLOW THE CONTRACTORS TO CUT
DOWN SOME OF THE TREES.
AND GET SOME OF THOSE POWER
LINES OFF THE ROAD.
THEY SAY THAT WAS ONE OF THE
WAYS THEY HAVE TRIED TO SPEED
UP THE STATE RESPONSE HERE
ALONG HIGHWAY 2. THAT'S THE
STORY FOR NOW.
LIVE IN MONROE.
I'M CHRIS DANIELS.
KING 5 NEWS.
>> THANK YOU CHRIS.
>>> WELL, EAST KING COUNTY.
>> A LOT OF THE WIND WE ARE
WATCHING, WE HAVE SEEN GUSTS
UP TO 50, 60 MILES AN HOUR.
I AM STARTING THE COMPUTER
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. SO,
HERE. SO, THE WINDS ARE COMING OUT
OF THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST.
AS THEY COME DOWN THE HILL,
THEY WARM UP A BIT.
WARMING UP IS CHANGING A LOT
OF THAT.
OF THAT.
OF THAT. WE HAVE A RAIN SNOW MIX.
THE WIND ADVISORY OR THE WIND
WARNING DOES TAKE US RIGHT
THROUGH ABOUT MIDNIGHT.
I'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING
UP IN JUST A MOMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT CRAIG, WE WILL
LET YOU GET THAT COMPUTER BACK
RUNNING.
RUNNING.
RUNNING. >>> SKAGIT COUNTY WOUND UP
BEING A BIG TARGET FOR SNOW
LAST NIGHT.
LAST NIGHT. MORE IS COMING DOWN THIS
EVENING.
EVENING.
EVENING. KING 5'S GLENN FARLEY IS LIVE
IN BURLINGTON.
IN BURLINGTON. LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE
SNOWFALL WHERE YOU ARE.
AND WIND.
AND WIND.
AND WIND. >> Reporter: IT IS.
AND, IT IS ALSO AS CRAIG
POINTED OUT, AN I IMPRESSIVE
WIND EVENT.
WIND EVENT. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT GUSTS
15 MILES AN HOUR IN TOWN.
MOST OF THE SNOW I'M SEEING
NOW IS SNOW THAT IS BLOWING.
THERE WE GO.
15 MILES AN HOUR RIGHT THERE.
BUT, THERE'S SNOW HERE.
AND THEN, MORE AND MORE SNOW
AS YOU GO FURTHER EAST.
IT'S DIG-OUT DAY IN
BURLINGTON.
BURLINGTON. NATURE IS ALWAYS PACKING A
SURPRISE IT SEEMS OUTSIDE THE
DECAMP AND STRADFORD FURNITURE
STORE IN DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON.
>> IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF
YEARS.
YEARS.
YEARS. >>
YEARS. >> Reporter: DON OLSEN IS
SHOVELING THE WALKS EXPECTING
CUSTOMERS WILL STILL MAKE IT
IN.
IN.
IN. >>
IN. >> HOW MANY INCHES?
>> WE'LL CALL IT SIX.
>> Reporter: SNOW EXPECTED TO
HIT FURTHER SOUTH.
BUT, EAST, DEEPER INTO THE
MOUNTAINS WITH JUST STILL A
FEW HUNDRED FEET IN ELEVATION,
THE TOWN OF CONCRETE GETS A
BLAST OF SNOW.
IT'S EVERYWHERE.
IT'S EVERYWHERE. IT'S PRETTY.
IT'S PRETTY. BUT WHETHER IT'S ON THE ROADS
OR ON THE SIDEWALK AND TOWN,
IT IS STILL WORK.
>> SO I WENT TO THE HARDWARE
STORE.
STORE.
STORE. GOT A YARDSTICK.
I DON'T THINK A ROLLER COULD
DO IT.
DO IT.
DO IT. CHECK OUT THIS BENCH.
ABOUT 13.5 INCHES.
QUITE A BIT.
>> WE ARE WALKING TO THE
BAKERY.
BAKERY.
BAKERY. WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO
GET IT EARLIER IN THE WEEK.
>> Reporter: THIS TOWN IS NO
STRANGER TO SNOW.
UNTIL LAST NIGHT, IT LOOKED
LIKE WINTER WAS GOING TO BE A
NO SHOW.
NO SHOW.
NO SHOW. >> 24 HOURS AGO, IF WE WERE
STANDING HERE, WAS THERE
ANYTHING?
ANYTHING?
ANYTHING? >> Reporter: WINTER ALONG THE
SKAGIT RIVER APPEARING FOR NOW
AT LEAST HERE TO STAY.
NOW, WE HAVE SEEN ON OUR
ANEMOMETER HERE, IT JUST CALMS
DOWN MAYBE TWO MILES AN HOUR.
4.7.
4.7.
4.7. 8.5.
8.5.
8.5. WE
8.5. WE GOT ONE UP TO 15.4.
IF YOU GO DOWN, YOU CAN SEE
WHAT THIS DOES.
SEE WHERE THE SNOW, BECAUSE OF
THE WIND HAS BEEN SORT OF
SCOURED OUT, AND GETS MOVED
AROUND.
AROUND.
AROUND. WE HAVE DRIFTS.
IT'S NOT HUGE.
THE WIND IS ACTUALLY PLAYING A
ROLE IN REARRANGING THE SNOW
HERE IN BURLINGTON.
YEP, THERE YOU GO AGAIN.
NATALIE SWABY IS IN PARTS OF
SNOHOMISH COUNTY THAT WAS
PRETTY HARD HIT LAST NIGHT.
>> Reporter: WE ARE DRIVING
THROUGH SNOHOMISH COUNTY ALL
DAY, NORTHERN PART OF THE
COUNTY SPECIFICALLY.
COUNTY SPECIFICALLY. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN
DARINGTON.
DARINGTON. I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE ROADS
LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW.
SNOW COVERED.
SNOW COVERED. WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF WIND.
AND THE GUSTS HAVE BEEN A BIG
PROBLEM IN THE NORTHERN PART
OF THE COUNTY FOR SNOHOMISH
PUD.
PUD.
PUD. WE
PUD. WE WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALONG
WITH A CREW TODAY.
AND, HERE'S THE SITUATION
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. WE
HERE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH
NEIGHBORS RIGHT HERE IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NEIGHBORHOOD. AND, THEY TOLD US OVERNIGHT,
THEY GOT ABOUT 19 INCHES OF
NEW SNOW.
NEW SNOW.
NEW SNOW. ALL THAT SNOW IS WEIGHING DOWN
THE TREES.
THE TREES. AND, THAT IS CREATING A
SERIOUS HAZARD.
SERIOUS HAZARD. IN DARINGTON, THE WEATHER IS
DELIVERING THE USUAL OBSTACLES
FOR SNOHOMISH PUD.
LOTS OF SNOW.
AND WIND.
AND WIND.
AND WIND. >> WE WILL JUST WATCH THE
WIND.
WIND.
WIND. WHEN IT GETS TOO SEVERE WHEN
THERE'S TOO MUCH COMING DOWN,
WE WILL BACK OFF.
IT'S TO KEEP IT SAFE.
>> Reporter: LINE FOREMAN TED
LEWIS AND HIS CREW HAVE BEEN
WORKING IN THE NORTHERN PART
OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
>> FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
LIKE, 16 HOURS.
TRYING TO KEEP THE POWER UP.
RIGHT?
RIGHT?
RIGHT? WE
RIGHT? WE JUST GOT TO GET THROUGH IT.
>> Reporter: POWER OUTAGES
HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM.
>> WE LOST POWER LAST NIGHT.
TWICE.
TWICE.
TWICE. >>
TWICE. >> Reporter: JAMIE OLSEN IS
HAPPY TO HAVE THE HELP FROM
SNOHOMISH PUD AND NEIGHBORS.
>> WE CAN GET OUT.
>> Reporter: AS NEIGHBORHOODS
DIG OUT, THIS CREW IS DIGGING
IN FOR WHAT COULD BE A COUPLE
MORE LONG DAYS.
>> THEY'LL HAVE THIS COMPLETE
IN A MINUTE.
WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY BACK ON.
IT IS LITTLE THINGS.
RIGHT?
RIGHT?
RIGHT? JUST LITTLE THINGS WE HAVE TO
TACKLE TO GET THEM BACK UP.
THERE'S A NEED.
BUT YOU HAVE TO GO STEP AT A
TIME AND BE PATIENT.
RIGHT?
RIGHT?
RIGHT? AND WE WILL GET TO EVERYBODY
IN TIME.
IN TIME.
IN TIME. >> Reporter: ALL RIGHT, AND WE
ARE LIVE HERE IN DARINGTON ON
DARINGTON STREET.
DARINGTON STREET. AND, WE ARE NOTICING A LOT OF
DRIVEWAYS STILL PACKED WITH
SNOW.
SNOW.
SNOW. CARS THAT HAVEN'T MOVED.
IN A NUMBER OF DAYS.
AS FAR AS THE POWER OUTAGES.
CREWS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
RESTORE POWER FOR MORE THAN
44,000 CUSTOMERS THROUGHOUT
SNOHOMISH COUNTY.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY. BUT THE CONDITIONS WE ARE
DEALING WITH, THE GUSTY WINDS.
THAT'S THE REASON THE POWER
OUTAGES CONTINUE TO BE A
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BROUGHT ON AT LEAST
SEVEN CONTRACT CREWS TO HELP
WITH ALL THE WORK.
LIVE IN DARINGTON, NATALIE
SWABY, KING 5 NEWS.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE
HEAVY SNOW.
HEAVY SNOW. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPORTED
CHANGES FOR TOMORROW.
SO, HEADS UP.
BELLINGHAM, BURLINGTON EDISON,
FERNDALE, MOUNT BAKER, PORT
ANGELES, SEQUIM, AND SKYKOMISH
WILL ALL BE CLOSED.
THEY ARE IN RED.
THE CHANGES IN YELLOW.
LATE STARTS.
LATE STARTS. DARINGTON, EVERETT, ANACORTES,
LAKE WASHINGTON, MERIDIAN,
MOUNT VERNON, AND SEDRO-
WOOLLEY ARE ALL PLANNING A
LATE START.
LATE START. WE WILL BRING YOU UPDATES ALL
EVENING LONG AS THESE CHANGE
AND YOU CAN FIND THE LATEST ON
KING5.COM AND THE KING 5
MOBILE APP.
MOBILE APP. >>> PORT ANGELES IS DIGGING
OUT FROM UNDER MORE THAN A
FOOT OF SNOW.
OTHER AREAS ON THE OLYMPIC
PENINSULA REPORTED CLOSER TO
TWO FEET.
TWO FEET.
TWO FEET. TWO FEET OF SNOW.
STILL COMING DOWN IN SOME
AREAS.
AREAS.
AREAS. ROAD CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK TO KEEP
HIGHWAY 101 CLEAR.
>>> HERE IS AT LOOK AT HOW
MUCH SNOW FELL IN PORT
ANGELES.
ANGELES.
ANGELES. CHRISTY RECORDED THIS VIDEO.
CHECK OUT THE THICK BLANKET OF
SNOW COVERING THE DRIVEWAY IN
THE ROAD AND HER DOGS SURE
ENJOYED PLAYING IN THE SNOW.
HER SHEPHERD IS NAMED PHOENIX.
THE ROTTWEILER NAMED LOUIE
LOVED JUMPING AROUND IN ALL
THE DEEP SNOW.
YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE
WEATHER WITH THE BRAND NEW
KING 5 APP.
IT'S FREE.
IT'S FREE. IT ALLOWS YOU TO SEE CURRENT
TEMPERATURES ALL OVER THE
REGION.
REGION.
REGION. TEXT