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Be aware of where not to drive this flood season
Never drive past barricaded road signs, or where
there is water over the road -- driving through rushing water is the number
one cause of loss of life during floods. If your car stalls in a flooded area,
abandon it as soon as possible and walk to safety in the direction you
came from.
As the winds of November head into the Puget Sound, so does the heavy
rain. This is the time of year when King County is prone to heavy
flooding, and the flood season can last well into early spring.
Flooding can occur near major rivers, small creeks and normally dry
ditches. But what is called "urban flooding" can also happen in
subdivisions, parking lots and city streets. You don't have to live on the
banks of the Snoqualmie or Cedar rivers to experience significant flooding
in King County.
Your best defense is to be prepared. If you are new to the area, ask
neighbors and friends if you are living in a flood-prone area. You can
also call the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services at (206) 296-6660 for
information.
Have an emergency plan for your entire family that can be used in the
event of a flood, severe winter storm or other major natural disaster.
Establish a central meeting place in case your home is inaccessible.
Just because your home or workplace is on high ground, doesn't mean it
won't be cut off by rising waters. Look at the roadways along your daily
route and have a travel alternative identified that avoids low-lying
areas, underpasses and other places that could be flooded by either
nearby waterways or heavy rains.
Never drive past barricaded road signs or where there is water over
the road -- driving through rushing water is the number one cause of loss of life
during floods. If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as soon as
possible and walk to safety in the direction you came from.
Around your own home, keep street drains and storm grates free of
leaves and other debris. Call the King
County Road Services Division at (206) 296-8100 or
1-(800) KC ROADS, if you need assistance and live in unincorporated King
County.
The Road Services Division has identified some specific roads that serve as
indicators of how severe the flooding is. For example, during minor
flooding (Phase II) Neal Road, Reinig Road, West Snoqualmie River
Road, Snoqualmie Meadowbrook Road and Mill Pond Road could all be
overtopped when the Snoqualmie River overflows its banks.
In a moderate flood (Phase III), the Green River frequently
spills over onto Southeast Green Valley Road and West Valley Road, and the
Cedar River is a problem on Lower Dorre Don Road and Byres Road.
In the event of extreme flooding (Phase IV), many major roads in
east and south King County are threatened by both water over the
riverbanks and leaking levees, mud slides and debris piling up
under bridges.
To monitor roadway conditions during floods and storms, visit
the King County Alert Road Closures and Conditions Web page. You can also subscribe to King
County Alert and be notified by e-mail or
page about the latest road closures and travel conditions.
Comprehensive flood information is available online through the King County Department of Natural Resources Web site, and regionally on the Taking Winter
By Storm Web site.
Related
links
Taking Winter By
Storm Web site
Flooding topics --
King County Department of Natural Resources
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to King County Alert!:
A
free traffic and transit e-mail bulletin service!
"North Bend
meeting set to present flood mapping project," news release, Oct. 26, 2001
"Outstanding
flood management results in 30 percent reduction in King County residents'
flood insurance costs," news release, Oct. 23, 2001 |
