Business owners and residents in the Kent Valley need to get ready for a second consecutive winter of potential Green River flooding because the Howard Hanson Dam still cannot hold back as much water as its original design.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees operations of Hanson Dam, reminds residents to be alert and aware about weather conditions and the potential for flooding.
The corps has lowered the threat of Green River flooding this winter to 1 in 60 from 1 in 33 last year because of installation of a grout curtain. But the odds of flooding are 1 in 140 when the dam is fully operational. Additional repairs to put the dam at that level are not expected to be completed until 2012.
“People need to stay prepared,” said Casondra Brewster, an Army Corps public affairs specialist in Seattle. “We’ve still got a ways to go. It’s better than last year but Mother Nature was kind to us last year and we’re not sure that will happen this year.”
Kent city officials have not yet solidified flood plans for this winter.
“But bottom line, it will be the same plan as last year,” said Michelle Witham, city community and public affairs manager, in an e-mail. “Be ready, have flood insurance, sign up for CodeRed, public meetings, etc…”
Witham said information about public meetings, sandbags and other flood preparation steps should be available soon. City officials hosted public meetings and had sand and sandbags available last October in preparation for winter storms.
The CodeRed system gives city officials the ability to deliver urgent pre-recorded telephone, cell phone, e-mail or text messages to targeted areas, or the entire community, at a rate of up to 60,000 per hour.
To sign up for emergency notifications from the city, go to www.kentcodered.com or call Kent Emergency Management from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 253-856-4440.
Kent city crews and contractors last year placed nearly 20,000 giant sandbags along a 12-mile stretch of Green River levees in an effort to help protect homes and businesses from flooding this winter. Those sandbags remain in place.
The city also set up evacuation routes for traffic to get out of the valley.
• Key Web sites about flooding:
Flood planning and response: www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans
Family disaster preparedness: www.3days3ways.org
Green River gauge readings: www.kingcounty.gov/flood or 1-800-945-9263
Kent Emergency Management: www.ci.kent.wa.us/emergencymanagement or 253-856-4440
National Flood Insurance: www.floodsmart.gov or 1-888-379-9531
National Weather Service: www.wrh.noaa.gov/sew
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: www.nws.usace. army.mil
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