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King County Emergency Coordination Center activated, departments gearing up to respond to wet weather
Summary
King County residents will have another chance to test their emergency preparedness as the National Weather Service is forecasting large amounts of rain in our region through Thursday morning. With the possibility of urban and rural flooding, increased snow load, landslides and avalanches, King County departments are gearing up to respond to wet weather conditions and are urging residents to prepare their families and homes for potential power outages or flooding.
Story
Dangerous widespread flooding is likely to occur throughout the Snoqualmie Valley and flood alerts have been issued for the Green and Tolt Rivers and Issaquah Creek as a powerful storm moves through King County .
The National Weather Service is forecasting large amounts of rain in the region through Thursday morning. With the possibility of urban and rural flooding, increased snow load, landslides and avalanches, King County departments are gearing up to respond to wet weather conditions and are urging residents to prepare their families and homes for potential power outages or flooding.
In anticipation of the wind and rain, the county’s Flood Warning Center opened late Tuesday afternoon and the Office of Emergency Management activated its Emergency Coordination Center this morning.
The best time to prepare for rain and its impact is before you feel the first drop. To avoid personal injury and property damage due to flooding, King County urges citizens to prepare now by following these safety tips:
- Know if you are in a flood prone area. Floodplain mapping is available.
- Have an emergency plan and basic food, personal and emergency supplies on hand.
- Learn the safest route from your home or business to high ground.
- Agree on meeting places and phone numbers in case family members are separated by rising flood waters.
- Minimize flood damage by storing valuables at higher elevations, such as a second story, and buy sand and sandbags ahead of time. Sandbags and sand are generally available at hardware warehouse stores and co-ops.
- Keep street drains, storm grates and flap gates free of debris to minimize urban flooding.
For more information and preparedness tips, contact King County Office of Emergency Management at 206-296-3830 or visit www.kingcounty.gov/safety/prepare.aspx.
