King County Issues Proclamation Of Emergency After Sunday's Storm

KING COUNTY, WA — King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed a state of emergency in response to Sunday's storm, giving him the ability to exercise emergency powers.

Through the proclamation, Constantine adjusted operating hours at King County solid waste facilities and waived service fees for the disposal of yard waste at those facilities. The Solid Waste Division Director deemed those changes necessary to facilitate cleanup following the storm, the proclamation says.

Beginning Dec. 26, King County was hit with snow, high winds and subfreezing temperatures. According to the proclamation, those conditions have created staffing shortages and curtailed activities such as waste collection, prompting Constantine to proclaim the state of emergency.

"The situation is sufficiently serious that it is necessary that I proclaim an emergency within King County and exercise the Executive's emergency powers," Constantine wrote in the proclamation.

The order will remain in effect until it is terminated by Executive action or by the City Council.

Read the full proclamation here.