Editor’s note: Do floods mean I’m paddling my life raft to work?

Like a lot of Kent residents, I live in the valley.

When I first moved here, nearly four years ago, I gravitated toward the Green River Valley. I liked the greenery, I loved the nearby farms, and oh yeah, I loved this beautiful river flowing sinuously through it all.

My apartment almost has a view of the river itself. All I have to do is walk about 100 paces down the street, and I could heave a rock into it.

I had no idea, four years ago, that I might be getting waterfront property this winter, complete with a Venice-like ambience. So good a view, in fact, that I might be paddling a life raft to work.

We could be experiencing something truly frightening flooding this winter, and I am in the same proverbial boat as you.

I want to know what will happen. I want to know how much time I’ll have, once the warnings go out, to escape to higher ground, my daughter and cats in tow.

I live in an apartment complex, and I don’t know who is actually in charge of sandbagging anything. I live on the second floor, but once high water hits, my family and I could be trapped and unable to leave.

And what will happen to my neighbors below me? Do they read the paper, or watch the television news stories about this?

So, along with the rest of you, I am more than a little worried.

So I want to assure you, readers, that the Kent Reporter will do everything it can to find these things out, in the weeks ahead.

We will be digging into this story with as many updates, and references for getting more information, as it is possible to give you.

In the next few weeks, you can look to us for information about getting flood insurance (did you know it takes 30 days to go into effect, meaning you should be buying as soon as you can?), where to get sandbags, and where to get help. We’ll also keep you updated on the latest emergency measures the City of Kent is taking.

For instance, this week, the city announced its new “reverse 9-1-1” emergency notification system. Called “CodeRED,” the system enables the city to send out phone, e-mail or text messages to the community, upwards of about 60,000 per hour.

If you’re on this system, you can warned of everything from hazardous material spills, to illness outbreaks, and, of course, flooding.

Officials right now are working to get the database together on this, and every resident in town should make sure they’re on it.

It’s as easy as logging on to www.kentcodered.com, or by calling 253-856-4440 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, if you don’t have Internet access.

This is a wonderful service, and I know in the months ahead, if it works the way it’s supposed to, it may very well save some lives.

So for the time being, we’ll hunker down and wait to see what the rain is like. But rest assured, the Kent Reporter is in this, right along with the rest of you.