National Guard arrives in Leavenworth to offer aid after emergency declaration

After the mayor declared a disaster in the city of Leavenworth on Friday due to “unprecedented and record-breaking snowfall,” members of the National Guard are arriving to help Monday.

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The emergency declaration from Mayor Carl Florea stated that Leavenworth had received 36 inches of snow in under 24 hours on Jan. 6, 2022. Some areas received up to 48 inches in just 48 hours.

By issuing the declaration, it allows the city to use local resources that can aid quickly, instead of going through a normal bidding process, and a pre-requisite for state and federal emergency aid funding.

The city also requested aid from the National Guard for assistance with “citizen welfare checks, food delivery, general snow cleanup, and private driveway snow removal.” That help is coming Monday.

Happening now: Guard members are meeting with local leaders in Leavenworth and preparing to conduct wellness checks around the city. Like so many in central Washington, Leavenworth received heavy snow during the past week’s snow storm that closed all four major mountain passes. pic.twitter.com/zmtmUfb9Je

— WA National Guard (@WANationalGuard) January 10, 2022

There will be 23 members of the National Guard in Leavenworth starting Jan. 10. They will help with welfare checks, food distribution, and shoveling or moving snow that is in the public right of way, but will not be able to help rake or shovel roofs.

For those in Leavenworth who need help of any kind — snow removal, food, welfare check — there is a request form available here. The city also suggests checking on your neighbors, if it’s possible for you to get through the snow. On Sunday, the city said it is working through all the requests for help and that “there’s no request too small.”

Snow removal, at least until Monday, is continuing around the clock.

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Meanwhile, Stevens Pass on US 2 remains closed from milepost 55, seven miles east of Skykomish, to milepost 99 at the west end of Leavenworth due to heavy snow accumulation and avalanche danger. The Washington State Department of Transportation says it is unlikely that Stevens Pass will reopen before Wednesday, Jan. 12.

Find information, resources, and updates on the conditions in Leavenworth online here.

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