For the Reporter

With mild flood seasons for three consecutive winters and sunny weather for the first week of October, King County leaders are concerned about people living in flood-prone areas could become complacent.

Members of the Metropolitan King County Council, who serve as the supervisors of the King County Flood Control District, joined King County Executive Dow Constantine in recognizing October as Flood Awareness Month in King County.

“We take action year around to reduce flood risk and prepare to protect residents during flood season,” Constantine said. “It’s just as important that everyone is personally prepared for one of the most frequent natural disasters in our region.”

“Our preparations for flood season include a major construction project, but that work is no more important than the work every family should do to ensure they are ready to deal with whatever comes,” said King County Flood District Chair Reagan Dunn.

“Flooding is an issue that knows no jurisdictions or boundaries,” said Flood District Vice Chair Larry Gossett. “In the heart of Seattle, a woman in my district lost her life due to urban flooding. So being aware and preparing for floods is something to do regardless of where you live in King County.”

“We have been fortunate to have had such mild and relatively flood-free rivers lately, but it is important to note that there have been 12 flood disasters declared by the President since 1990 in King County,” said Flood District Supervisor Pete von Reichbauer.

“We don’t know what this flood season will bring, therefore it’s critical that homeowners evaluate and prepare for potential flood hazards,” said Supervisor Kathy Lambert. “I encourage everyone to sign up for Flood Alerts in your area to make sure you are ready if flooding comes.”

Families can assemble a basic emergency preparedness kit for the home, with items such as a flashlight with spare batteries, a portable radio, non-perishable food, drinking water, and books or games for younger family members.

King County also offers free access to KC Flood Alerts, an automated system that allows subscribers to receive customized alerts of potential flooding for any or all of King County’s six major river systems.

Immediate notifications about pending high water are sent to email, smart phone text or voicemail, providing subscribers with the maximum amount of warning about potential high water.

Sign up for KC Flood Alerts at www.kingcounty.gov/flood. This website is a valuable preparedness resource, with all of the latest information about river levels and road conditions, plus weather reports and other critical links.

King County also issues flood-related notifications and other emergency information via RPIN, the County’s regional emergency information and notification system. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/RPIN.

Additional preparations for flood season include:

• Buying flood insurance now; it takes 30 days for a policy to take effect, and a standard insurance policy will not cover flood damage. Contact your insurance agent or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

• Monitoring area news media for information when severe weather is predicted. Listen for alerts about evacuation routes, and monitor local road conditions and obey closure signs.

• Minimizing flood damage by storing valuables and electronics higher, and by moving vehicles and equipment to high ground before flood waters rise.

• Disposing of hazardous chemicals, such as lawn and gardening herbicides, at one of the county’s household hazardous waste sites to help reduce harmful contaminates in flood waters. Learn more at your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/hazwaste.asp.

When river levels rise to designated thresholds, King County’s Flood Warning Center is opened and staffed around-the-clock to monitor river gages, weather data, dam operations and road closures. When warranted, staff are dispatched to address safety concerns, such as flooded roadways, and to check on flood control facilities.

Once a flood event is imminent, King County employees will mobilize and begin to gather, analyze and distribute flood warning information so that residents, businesses, property owners and emergency response officials can make important health and safety decisions.

In most locations, the County’s flood warning system provides at least two hours advance notice before floodwaters reach damaging levels. The center works in close coordination with the County’s Road Services Division to give citizens up-to-date information on road closures.

During river flooding events, King County serves as a clearinghouse for information on flood conditions, operating a recorded message center with hourly updates of river gage readings, predicted flood crests, dam operations and other related information. The recorded message number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.

When the Flood Warning Center is open, citizens can directly contact King County staff with their flooding concerns and questions by calling 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932.

Questions or assistance with flooding on smaller streams or urban drainage problems can be called in to 206-296-1900 during business hours, or 206-296-8100 after hours or on weekends.