Snohomish County purchases hotels for interim housing

Snohomish County is plans to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to purchase two hotels to convert to time-limited, bridge housing coupled with wraparound services.

The Days Inn facility in Everett will provide 74 new units of time-limited, bridge –or interim –housing for individuals living without shelter.

Edmonds’ America’s Best Value Inn in Edmonds will have 55 units.

Executive Dave Somers has forwarded the purchase agreement for the Days Inn facility to the Snohomish County Council for consideration. The County Council will consider the proposal, and take public comment Aug. 17.

The County intends to purchase additional properties in the coming weeks, with

Council approval. In addition, Snohomish County will conduct community outreach to ensure residents and organizations can learn more about the program, provide input on implementation, and ask questions. The facility has received motel voucher referrals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last year, the County estimates that 120 individuals have been provided emergency shelter at this location. By purchasing the facility, the County will add new services including 24/7 on-site staffing, wraparound services, and increased navigation to any needed off-site services.

As of the end of 2021, Snohomish County had 646 year-round shelter beds. Last week, Snohomish County announced see INTERIM HOUSING page 11 u

Tsunami danger: Snohomish County not immune from Seattle quake

by b RI an SOERGEL edmondseditor@yourbeacon net

Editor’s note: Here’s is an excerpt from “Lost Roadhouses of Seattle” from authors Brad Holden and Peter Blecha, published Aug. 15 by Arcadia Publishing. Holden, who lives in unincorporated Snohomish County, he writes a monthly column for Seattle Magazine. Blecha is a staff historian with HistoryLink.org. oadhouses were a unique American institution that have all but vanished off the old highways and remote roadways where they once flourished.

RA byproduct of early car culture, road-

The first wave from a tsunami from a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Seattle Fault could arrive in Snohomish County within 10 minutes. Possible five-foot waves would crest in 15 minutes at the Edmonds ferry terminal.

Mukilteo would no doubt see some effects, too.

Those ominous findings are among those revealed recently when the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released a new study showing the impact of a tsunami produced by a major earthquake on the Seattle Fault.

Among its more worrisome findings: a wave possibly more than 40 feet high on the Seattle waterfront.

The study, prepared by geologists within the Washington Geological Survey division of DNR, was conducted to help local and state emergency managers and planners develop and refine response and preparedness plans for a tsunami in the middle of Washington’s largest population center and economic hub.

The report finds tsunami waves would reach the shoreline in fewer than three minutes in many places on the eastern side of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay, and Alki Point.

The report shows inundation from such a tsunami exceeding 20 feet along the shoreline of the greater Seattle area.

“Most often, when we think of tsunamis, see TSUNAMI THREAT page 8 u