A public meeting to provide information about flood safety and developments related to the Howard Hanson Dam operations on the Green River is scheduled for March 31 in Auburn.
Sponsored by King County and the King County Flood Control District in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the meeting is set for 6-8 p.m. in the Lindbloom Student Center on the main campus of Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn.
In February, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that storage capacity at the dam would be temporarily restricted until engineers can evaluate damage to the right abutment of the flood-storage facility that was discovered following the January 2009 flooding.
While the Corps points out there is no immediate danger to people and property below the dam, an increased risk of flooding to the Green River Valley below the dam is possible in the event of a major rainstorm or significant snowmelt because of the limited storage capacity.
“Protecting lives and property is our number-one priority,” said King County Flood District Board Supervisor and Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, whose council district represents Auburn. “We are coordinating with the Corps and local jurisdictions to ensure that effective plans are in place and residents and businesses have access to information necessary to prepare for a flood event.”
“The safety of residents along the Green River is of the utmost importance, which is why we’ve taken several proactive steps to ensure that those communities stay safe,” added King County Executive Ron Sims. “We have enhanced our Flood Warning Center operations, increased our flood patrol crews and are committed to early communications with cities so that everyone has the information they need until the Army Corps of Engineers can develop its plans to repair the dam and put them in place.”
Area residents are encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about:
• Dam operations and potential impacts to their property;
• What is being done in King County to respond to any possible impacts; and
• Available resources, plus ways to protect themselves and their property against flood risks.
The meeting will include an open house from 6-6:30 p.m., followed by presentations from 6:30-7:30 p.m., then will close with a question-and-answer session from 7:30-8 p.m. Staff from the Corps, King County Emergency Coordination Center and King County Flood Warning Center will make presentations.
More details and history about the Howard Hanson Dam issue, including aerial photos of the dam, can be found at http://www.nws.usace.army.mil.
For more information about how King County and the King County Flood Control District are preparing for and responding to the Howard Hanson Dam situation and for flood planning links to affected cities visit www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans, or www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org.
More information is available by calling Katy Vanderpool, at 206-296-8362, or katy.vanderpool@kingcounty.gov. Directions to Green River Community College are available at http://www.greenriver.edu/about/campus/directions/
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/.
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