The great melt

The West Seattle Junction

California Avenue

OK, we surrender. We endured a fourth snow storm yesterday afternoon that brought gobs of heavy wet stuff, with a nasty transition to freezing rain. By the end, the snow was up to my knees in the back yard.

Carports and flat roofs around town collapsed under the weight, the evening commute was a nightmare (thank goodness John left work early) and now the real danger of urban flooding begins from blocked storm drains.  Not to mention, widespread power outages from fallen tree limbs.  Both Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass are closed this morning.  Over 500 delays and cancellations at SeaTac yesterday.

It is finally starting to rain, but after another 8 or so inches last night, many people are still completely snowed in.

Ho hum, says the rest of the country; silly Seattle got some snow. And our reaction to snow probably does seem kind of cute-- from a distance. But it gives a person pause to consider, what would happen if we had a real disaster here?

Examples of life in Seattle lately:

Yesterday was the third Monday in a row without trash or recycle pick up. Trash is piling up everywhere, especially around the big apartment buildings.

It's a drag hauling our full cans back into the yard from missed pickups, but if we leave them in the alley, thoughtless people walking by throw garbage in our clean recycle bin.

We haven't had mail delivery since last week. Thursday?

People have missed work, important appointments and all their enjoyable activities, like ukulele groups, ballets, flights, regular exercise and seeing friends.  Parents are at their wit's end, and the kids will be in school until July to make up snow days.

The hills in the neighborhood are littered with beer cans, trash and plastic from late night sledding parties.

The social norms we take for granted have started to fall by the wayside.  No one picks up after their dogs in the snow, of course.  And because there's no traffic, some people let them run loose on the streets and they dash into yards.  Yesterday when I opened the front door, there were 3 large dogs on our porch, one looked like a pit bull.

Someone rides an obnoxious dirt bike in circles in front of our house.

And so on...yes, I'm cranky from being cooped up. I'm grateful I don't have to go to work, but I still miss the camaraderie and friendship of coworkers. Email and texting does not count as social interaction.

Anyway, better see if I can find another closet to clean out. My car is still buried under snow.