Flood preparation for the Green River Valley Green River Valley residents of all ages fill sandbags for use around homes and businesses. Get Ready, Stay ReadyPeople, businesses and farms below the Howard Hanson Dam in the Green River Valley should get prepared and stay prepared for a risk of flood water each winter. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has improved drainage to address concerns about an earthen bank next to the dam which showed troubling symptoms after record high water in January 2009. The Corps expects that the dam can operate at full flood storage capacity during the 2011-2012 flood season, restoring flood risk reduction to the dam’s design capacity of a 140-year flood. The return of full operational capacity of Howard Hanson Dam, in partnership with a functioning levee system downstream, does not eliminate all risks of flooding to the lower valley. The dam and levees only reduce the risk of flooding, and residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare for the risk of flooding to downstream areas using the best available information. If the valley were to experience serious flooding, evacuations in some communities are possible. Key transportation routes and transit service could be disrupted. Power outages and sewer back-ups are possible even outside the immediate flood zone. Knowing several evacuation routes is just part of your family’s personal preparedness planning. Citizens are also encouraged to register for regional warnings and alerts at www.RPIN.org. This is just one alert tool that’s available to you. Your city may also have its own emergency warning systems. Most typical home and business insurance policies don’t cover losses from flooding, so flood insurance is an important consideration. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides information about flood insurance - who needs it and how to purchase it - and other helpful resources for you to make informed decisions. Get Ready and Stay Ready to help keep your family and property safe when the rains come. Prepare now by following the action plan and help keep your family and property safe when the rains come. ¡Preparémonos ya!
Peligro de inundaciones en los alrededores del Río Green o Duwamish Translations - Green River flood preparation (PDF)    
    
Learn more about the Howard Hanson Dam (from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)Additional informationGreen River flood planning agencies and city Web sites |
Residents, businesses and farms below the Howard Hanson Dam in the 