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King County
Executive Office
Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711
Image: King County Exeutive Ron Sims, News Release

Nov. 9, 2006, 2:30 p.m.

King County Flood Update: River flows dropping, flood patrol teams monitoring rivers

The White River remains at a Phase IV flood alert level, with flood waters hitting the town of Pacific overnight. Pacific City Park bore the brunt of the damage in that area. Planned water releases continue from Mud Mountain Dam maintaining elevated flows on the White River this morning.

Releasing water from dams on the White, Green and Cedar rivers now will increase the flood-storage capacity behind those dams, which will be needed if the additional rainfall moves into the region later this week and into next week as anticipated. Planned releases from dams on the Cedar, Green and White rivers will continue to keep flows elevated.

Elsewhere, flows continue to drop on the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, plus Issaquah Creek. In addition to the White River, flood alerts remain for the Cedar and Green rivers.

The King County Flood Warning Center will remain open for the next several days to monitor conditions. Flood patrol teams will be in the field through the long holiday weekend to monitor flows and assess impacts to flood control structures on the Green, Cedar, White, Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers. Emergency levee repairs are expected to occur within the next 24 hours in the Snoqualmie River system.

Real-time river level information is available online by visiting: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm. Residents in affected areas can get updated information on flooding on the King County Web site, or can visit RPIN, the area's regional Web site..

A recorded flood-information hotline is also updated each hour for citizens wanting information in flood areas. The number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263. Help interpreting flood information is available at 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932.

Roads

The most current road closure information can be found on the web at http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/roadalert/.

Evacuation/sheltering

The American Red Cross is operating two emergency shelters: one in Kent and another in Issaquah to accommodate residents affected by the flooding. Skykomish residents are directed to available shelter assistance in Monroe.

  • Kent has one shelter open at St. James Episcopal Church, located at 24447 94th Ave S.
  • Issaquah shelter is operating at the Issaquah Community Center at 301 Rainier Boulevard South. Phone: (425) 837-3300
  • Monroe shelter is operating at the Monroe Congregational Church at 301 South Lewis. Phone: (360) 794-7601

Any citizens needing information or assistance are directed to call American Red Cross serving King and Kitsap Counties main number at (206) 323-2345.

School closures

Private Schools: St. Joseph of Issaquah remains closed through Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006.

Health information

In areas that received heavy flooding, receding water levels may create potential health risks for evacuated residents and others impacted by flood waters as they return home and begin cleaning up. Public Health-Seattle & King County has valuable information available to help citizens return safely to their homes.

• Seattle-King County Public Health has information on cleaning a house after a flood

• Knowing which food and medicines are safe after a flood

• Numerous resources, tips and fact sheets related to managing after a flood or disaster

Water Safety: There are more than 1,600 small shared public water systems in King County consisting of two to fourteen connections, many of which use well water. An even larger number of individual private wells operate in the county. Flooding could result in contamination of these water sources. Public Health issues a strong caution to residents living in the flooded areas where flood water has risen above the well casing to drink bottled water or boil their water until the flood waters recede and the water can be tested for harmful bacteria. The following Web sites provide helpful information:

Recovery

King County Office of Emergency Management will collect preliminary damage assessments for primary residences and businesses beginning today, 11/08/06, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and through the coming weekend. King County residents can report flood damage by calling 800-523-5044.

This information is being collected in preparation to assist Washington State in requesting federal assistance because of this disaster. Should a federal declaration be announced for this flood event, additional information will be provided on how property owners are to file claims with FEMA.

  1. Residents reporting damages should be prepared to provide the following information:
  2. the name and address of affected property
  3. a description of damage
  4. a personal estimate of uninsured losses, and
  5. estimates of the fair market value of damaged homes or businesses.

Do not report damage to detached garages and storage buildings, secondary homes or recreational homes. Orchards and crops should be reported to the local farm service representative and subsequently to the Washington state office of the federal Farm Service Agency (509-323-3000) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (360-902-1800).

The Joint Information Center can be reached at 206-205-1000.

 



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  Updated: Nov. 9, 2006