FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nola Leyde, Public Affairs (206) 764-6896
Jan. 10, 2006

SEATTLE -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emergency management teams have been on the ground the past week providing technical assistance to cities, counties and state at sites that been eroded by rain and wind action or rising rivers.

With recent rain and winds, Western Washington rivers are running higher and the ground is saturated.

"The record for Seattle is 33 days of continuous rain and currently we are at 23 days and the forecast is for more rain," said Paul Komoroske, chief of Emergency Management at the Corps' office in downtown Seattle. The Corps has a seasoned team of emergency responders that assist in floods and natural disasters. Currently, flood fight personnel from the Corps have been requested to provide technical assistance on the Chehalis, Green, and Elwha rivers

The Reservoir Control Center at the Corps has been activated and is on 24-hour shifts as the National Weather Service continues to issue flood watches and warnings for Western Washington rivers.

The RCC manages and regulates five reservoirs during times of floods. They are Mud Mountain and Howard Hanson, both located near Enumclaw; Ross and Upper Baker on the Skagit River; and Wynoochee Dam on the Wynoochee River.

For more information and up-to-date forecasts go to www.nws.usace.army.mil and click on Rivers and Reservoirs or call the RCC at (206) 764-6702. Information on Emergency Management is also available at that same web address.