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When emergencies strike, help is on the way

Lawrence Eichhorn, SDOT's Emergency Management Manager and Rodney Maxie, SDOT's Safety Manager, were two SDOT employees who volunteered to help at the OSO landslide this spring.

Lawrence Eichhorn, SDOT’s Emergency Management Manager and Rodney Maxie, SDOT’s Safety Manager, were two SDOT employees who volunteered to help at the OSO landslide this spring.

Our hearts go out to the many people around the nation who have lost their loved ones or their homes as a result of a natural disaster or other major emergency–whether by fire, flood, winter storm, landslide, or some other event. These tremendous losses are a reminder that we need to plan ahead and do all we can to prepare for when an emergency strikes our city.

When there is an emergency in Seattle, the Seattle Department of Transportation responds to keep key arterial routes open. SDOT inspects streets and bridges, clears away debris, and works to remove hazards from streets. The department also issues permits authorizing others to work in street areas, and sends out critical transportation information to the public.

Agencies from around the region sent volunteers to help with the Oso landslide.

Agencies from around the region sent volunteers to help with the Oso landslide.

When other communities call on Seattle for assistance, City of Seattle employees volunteer to help. Employees from many different city departments volunteered for the Oso landfill response in Arlington, Washington this spring, including nine SDOT employees. In addition to the satisfaction of helping others, this work provides hands-on practice making us more prepared for responding to a disaster in our own city. Also, it is a comfort to know that if Seattle experiences a major disaster, other communities will come to our aid.