King County flood preparedness videos available in multiple languages

Flooding affects King County residents every year, including those who may have limited English skills. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, roughly one in four King County residents over the age of 5 speaks a language other than English at home. The King County Flood Control District, in partnership with the American Red Cross and King County, has produced a flood safety video in the top spoken languages in King County.

Having access to information on how to prepare and stay safe can greatly reduce flood-related risks to people and property.

The videos can be seen on YouTube and on the King County website, at www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans. Video distribution to multicultural community, immigrant and refugee groups will be carried out by Public Health – Seattle & King County and the American Red Cross.

“Our hope is to create safer communities during a flood event by making these short, informational videos accessible to as many people as possible – regardless of what language they speak,” said Julia Patterson, Chair of the King County Flood Control District and narrator of the English-language version of the video.

“We helped to coordinate volunteers for these videos through our Language Bank with the goal of helping to better prepare our community,” said Randy Hutson, CEO of the American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties.

Currently the languages include: English, Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Khmer (Cambodian), Hmong, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Ukrainian and Vietnamese. Other languages will be added in the coming weeks, including American Sign Language.

More information about flood preparedness is available at www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans.

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The King County Flood Control District is a special purpose government created to provide funding and policy oversight for flood protection projects and programs in King County. The Flood Control District’s Board is composed of the members of the King County Council. The Water and Land Resources Division of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks develops and implements the approved flood protection projects and programs. Information is available at http://www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/.

Related information

Flood Preparedness

Flooding services and information

King County Flood Alerts

How to prepare for a flood

King County Water and Land Resources Division

King County Flood Control District