As flood season nears, Sims encourages residents in flood-prone areas to prepare for rising waters

Executive also reiterates need to shore up aging levee system

Recognizing October as"Flood Awareness Month,"King County Executive Ron Sims today urged residents living in flood-prone areas to prepare for the possibility of rising rivers and streams with a personal flood-preparedness plan.

"We've been fortunate in recent years to have seen only minor, localized flooding, but people need to remember that King County has had seven federally-declared flood disasters in the last 16 years,"Sims said.

And as flood season nears, the Executive used the occasion to urge support for his plan to shore up King County’s aging levee system, which is charged with protecting thousands of lives, billions of dollars in economic infrastructure and transportation corridors.

"We can't predict when the next storm will have our rivers raging and threatening to breach our levees, but we can act now by making an investment in a safer future,"Sims said."People's safety and our region's economy depend on sound flood protection, and our aging levees must be strengthened."

To make up for a backlog of needed repairs and improvements, Sims has submitted a plan to the County Council that identifies a range of $179 million to $335 million in priority repairs and upgrades over the next decade, and recommends creating a county-wide flood control district to fund the plan.

King County's efforts to protect people and property have earned it the highest rating of any county in the United States under Federal Emergency Management Agency's Community Rating System. This recognition results in a 35 percent discount in flood insurance rates for policyholders in unincorporated King County.

Sims said the lack of serious flooding in the past several years shouldn’t lull those living within potential flood areas into a false sense of safety. King County is home to six major river systems. As a result, many residents can be directly or indirectly affected by flooding.

To prepare for flooding, residents in flood-prone areas should gather emergency supplies, including: a portable radio, flashlight, fresh batteries, emergency cooking equipment, non-perishable food, drinking water, essential medications and a first aid kit. In some cases, a handy supply of sandbags can help to protect property.

"People also need to have updated emergency phone numbers, identify safe evacuation routes and set a meeting place in case family members are separated by rising water,"Sims said.

King County is a regional leader in providing public health and safety services before, during, and after a flood.

When river levels rise to a certain threshold, King County's Flood Warning Center is opened and staffed around-the-clock to monitor river gauges, weather data, dam operations and road closures. When warranted, staff are dispatched to address safety concerns such as flooded roadways and to check on flood control facilities such as levees.

King County staff mobilize and begin to gather, analyze and distribute flood warning information so that residents, businesses, property owners and emergency response officials can make important health and safety decisions. In most locations, the flood warning system provides at least two hours warning before floodwaters reach damaging levels. The center works in tandem with the county's Road Services Division to give citizens up-to-date information on road closures.

During river flooding events, King County serves as a clearinghouse for information on flood conditions, operating a recorded message center with hourly updates of river gauge readings, predicted flood crests, dam operations and other related information. The recorded message number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.

When the Flood Warning Center is open, citizens can directly contact King County staff with their flooding concerns and questions by calling 206- 296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932. River gauge information is also available from the Department's Web site at http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm.

Questions or assistance with flooding on smaller streams or urban drainage problems can be called in to 206-296-1900 during business hours and 206-296-8100 after hours or on weekends. For more information about King County flood warning services, a map and tips on what to do before, during and after a flood, call 206-296-6581.

In addition, King County is readying for the flood season through participation in the Regional Disaster Plan -a system that allows agencies and businesses to coordinate their response to emergencies -and the Regional Public Information Network online news service at www.GOVLINK.org.

The service networks more than 50 participating agencies and organizations together to notify the public directly via e-mail or pager in response to a broad range of service disruptions or emergencies.

For more information about how King County prepares for and responds to flooding, please visit our Flooding Topics Web site at: dnr.metrokc.gov/topics/flooding/FLDtopic.htm.