Lakewood Declares Emergency, Redirects Resources

LAKEWOOD, WA - City Manager John Caulfield on Monday announced Lakewood's City Council will meet Tuesday to declare a state of emergency in response to the continued snow and ice battering the city, causing untold damages to property and residents alike.

The city council was scheduled to hold a study session Monday night, but that event was canceled due to inclement weather. The study session is now scheduled for Tuesday night, directly following the special meeting at to declare an emergency.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 6000 Main St. SW.

Caulfield's announcement cited ongoing winter weather that began in earnest around Feb. 3 with the first big snow storm.

Disrupting schools and businesses, transportation services, and the availability of city government, the storm's impacts have not abated for more than a week now. By declaring an emergency, Caulfield directs city staff to implement the plans and procedures laid out in the city's Emergency Management Plan and authorizes city departments to use whatever city resources necessary to respond to and recover from the damages caused by the storm.

Under a state of emergency, Caulfield said the city's Public Works Department can forego typically time-consuming processes for hiring private contractors to remove debris and repair streets, among other necessary recovery steps.

Gov. Jay Inslee on Feb. 10 declared a state of emergency for the whole of Washington. Inslee has since that declaration expanded the state of emergency purview.

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