Published November 23 2024
Last updated Nov. 27, 3 p.m.
City response status updates to be posted here
A bomb cyclone windstorm lashed Bellevue Tuesday night, bringing down trees throughout the city and leaving hundreds of thousands without power across the region.
Republic Services Update and Other Debris Collection Options
Beginning Monday, Nov. 25 through Friday, Dec. 6, Republic Services will collect up to 192 gallons (six 32-gallon units) of extra yard debris at the curb during customers' regular collection day at no additional cost. Importantly, the debris must be in your bin, a bag or bundled at curbside to be collected.
Service updates, details on what can be included in collection and proper disposal procedures can be found on the Republic Services Bellevue website. If your regular collection was not picked up, call Republic Services at 425-452-4762.
King County also announced they were at capacity and therefore temporarily suspending their debris collection options through the holiday weekend. They will resume accepting debris on Monday, Dec. 2. The county offered community members the ability to take woody debris from the storm to the Factoria Recycling and Transfer Station without incurring a yard waste fee. The free service is exclusively for wood debris from the recent storms. Stumps, logs and limbs no longer than six feet in length are allowed – no grass clippings, sod or soil will be accepted. The offer is open to all King County residents.
Damage Assessments and Recovery Resources
King County Emergency Management is collecting information on damage sustained during the storm to help assess whether our region may be eligible for state or federal disaster recovery resources. You can find information on how to report damages at the KCEM website. King County Executive Dow Constantine also issued an emergency proclamation and the county is pursuing options to help community members recover from this storm. More information on those efforts will be posted here and at the county level.
Power Outages
Puget Sound Energy announced Nov. 25 they had restored power to 99% of customers who lost it after last week's windstorm. The windstorm generated winds of up to 50 mph in the Bellevue area. People are advised to find the latest updates on outages at PSE.com/en/outage-map and refer to the Storm Alert banner at the top of the page for the latest PSE communication. PSE reminds people to never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 to report new downed lines or trees in power lines.
Food Safety and Disposal
Know when to throw out food and protect yourself from a food-borne illness during this prolonged power outage. Follow food safety tips from Public Health - Seattle & King County. Put food you are throwing out in your Republic Services compost container. Food can be placed in the container loose or in a paper or compostable bag; plastic bags are not acceptable in the compost container.
Facilities Status
Nearly all city facilities are fully operational, with some closures remaining in parks as crews continue cleanup efforts. City parks and recreation facilities hours and status updates are being posted on the Parks & Community Services page. City facilities all have power and the city also has wheelchair charging stations at City Hall, Crossroads Community Center, Highland Community Center, North Bellevue Community Center, South Bellevue Community Center and the Northwest Arts Center.
Free public Wi-Fi is available at city community centers, City Hall and many parks.
City Operations
Bellevue’s Fire, Police, Transportation and Utilities crews have responded to hundreds of calls for service. City crews worked around the clock to clear streets of downed trees and debris and strategically deploy generator resources to keep water and wastewater stations functioning. All Bellevue street closures have now been opened, with city crews working around the clock in the past week to clear them of trees and debris. The Transportation Department has an interactive map available of any relevant closures. To report downed trees (not involving power lines, as those must be cleared by PSE first) or other hazards in the right of way, call 425-452-7840 or email O&MSupport@bellevuewa.gov. Power has been restored to all street light in the city.
Trees
Trees on private property that appear to pose an immediate safety risk may be permitted for immediate removal. People must send photos of each tree, with a close-up of the base, to luzi@bellevuewa.gov for response and confirmation. The property address and location of the tree(s) on the property must be included.
Trees may have caused damage to personal property such as homes, decks or other structures. For help determining permitting required to make repairs to damaged structures, please reach out to buildingreview@bellevuewa.gov.
Weather Update
Visit the National Weather Service’s Bellevue page for the latest weather information.
Flooding
With rain following the windstorm and debris littering the ground, we can all help prevent flooding by making sure storm drains are clear of debris. View information, in multiple languages, on how to prevent flooding and what to do if your home or business at risk of flooding.
See illustrated guides on flooding: አማርኛ || 한국어 || عربى || ਪੰਜਾਬੀ || 繁體中文 || Русский || English || Español || فارسی || اردو || हिंदी || tiếng Việt || 日本語
Translated Content and General Safety
Community members are encouraged to check on their neighbors, clear storm drains of debris and refer to the safety tips below. Tips in 繁體中文, Русский, español, tiếng Việt and 日本語 are available at Windstorms.
Safety Tips
- Do not use gasoline-powered machinery, such as generators, indoors or in a garage; toxic fumes can build up and are dangerous! Only operate generators outdoors. Plug appliances directly into the generator using heavy duty, properly grounded extension cords that aren’t worn or frayed.
- Do not use charcoal grills indoors. Dangerous carbon monoxide can result.
- Do not use a gas range or oven for room heating. A fuel-burning heater, such as a kerosene heater, requires plenty of ventilation to prevent buildup of harmful fumes. Place heaters on a hard surface away from flammable materials. Never leave children or pets alone when using a portable heater.
- Turn off lights and appliances, including your furnace, and unplug sensitive electronic devices, like computers to avoid a circuit overload when power is restored. Leave one light switch on so you’ll know when service returns.
- Keep freezer and refrigerator doors closed; open them only when necessary.
- Food will usually stay frozen for 36-48 hours in a fully loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours.