Photos
“It looks pretty decent right now,” DES’ Steve Valandra said after 7 a.m. today. “They have it cleared as much as possible. Campus is open. We’re just having a tough time keeping up with all the new snow fall.’’
UPDATE: At least 10 inches of snow has been reported at the Capitol and the Legislature is moving ahead with some committee meetings. But four 8 a.m. Senate committee meetings have been delayed to a 9 a.m. start, and Senate session and caucus meetings are delayed an hour to 11 a.m. Go here for the latest list. Also, afternoon Senate committee hearings on transportation and budget have been cancelled; so have 6 p.m. House committee meetings.
Valandra said agency director Joyce Turner and deputy director Jane Rushford had both been on campus to check conditions are were expected to work at their offices. But most Enterprise Services employees are going to stay home and many are working from home.
“Only essential people are expected in. That includes people who keep the campus open, the mail system going, the steam plant …’’ Valandra said.
The state Emergency Management agency announced shortly after midnight that it has activated its emergency operations center at Camp Murray.
UPDATE 2: Cory Curtis, spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire, said it is up to individual agencies “to follow their inclement weather plans and decide” whether to open today. “We're asking employees and public to check agency web sites for most up to date info." He said they are reminding leaders that employee safety is the "top concern.”
As of 8 a.m., Curtis said the Governor’s Office is open; Department of Transportation has a delayed start; Enterprise Services requires essential staff only; ; and three Tumwater-based agencies - the Department of Health, Labor and Industries and state parks – have delayed a start. [See below: parks headquarters is closed.]
The Department of Ecology headquarters and the Lottery are closed, although Lottery's customer service staffers are working.
The Department of Early Learning has closed its Lacey and Bellevue offices. Commerce also has closed.
UPDATE 3: The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has closed.
In Tumwater, city administrator John Doan said: “City Hall and the Old Town Center are closed today. Like everyone else, the street crew is working hard to keep up with the snow and focusing on the most significant streets at this time. We encourage everyone to stay off the roads if possible.”
State parks just announced it has closed its headquarters building in Tumwater. The agency is asking staffers to check in by phone for Thursday.
The Department of Retirement Systems also closed in Tumwater. And Puget Sound Partnership closed offices in both Olympia and Tacoma, Gregoire spokeswoman Karina Shagren said.
Also, the Washington Federation of State Employees said it is closing its Olympia headquarters and field office, as well as field offices in Tacoma and Seattle and satellite offices in Vancouver and at Smokey Point.
UPDATE 4: The Department of Veterans Affairs closed its headquarters but its veterans homes are "operating normally," Shagren said.
The Department of Financial Institutions and the Employment Security Department are closed.
