OLYMPIA, Wash. — City and county workers hoping to have Veterans Day off, found themselves keeping storm drains and gutters clear of leaves heading into a wet stretch of weather in Olympia.
As of late Thursday afternoon, no urban flooding had been reported in Thurston County, but crews will be on standby overnight, and into Friday.
The city is asking residents to clear leaves from their driveways and gutters to allow drains to do their jobs.
Tim Smolen, who works for the state’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner, spent his day off clearing leaves from his gutter and from his neighbors’ front yards.
Smolen was afraid the leaves might clog storm drains in the neighborhood.
The Minnesota-born man said working in the wet weather does not bother him.
“By Midwest standards we’d be out in shorts playing football,” said Smolen, “This is mild.”