Staying prepared for flooding in the Valley
November 6, 2008
By Ed Farrell
Standing near a new Snoqualmie City Hall that is being developed on SE River Street, Mike Roy, operations supervisor for the city, notes that the first floor of the new building stands more than a head high off ground level.
Roy doesn’t have to think long before recalling just how deep flood waters can get at that location, but is as certain as he can be that plans for the new municipal center have addressed everything but a flood of biblical proportions.
“The whole building is within the floodplain,” Roy said, recalling how in 2006, water ran through that exact site at more than knee deep.
Charles Peterson, a current city councilman and former mayor of Snoqualmie, as well as a life-long city resident, said he is very confident the new city hall building will weather any storm.
“The first floor is one foot above the 100-year flood level,” Peterson said, adding that, to his knowledge, the city has never experienced that mythical 100-year inundation.
Peterson could recall, however, water an estimated three feet deep on the site when it housed the city’s old fire station.
The city’s new fire station now sits firmly on higher ground on Snoqualmie Parkway.
“We had to,” Peterson said of relocating the station. “It’s pretty hard to operate a fire station when it’s under water.”
Hundred year flood or not, most everything in the downtown area of Snoqualmie routinely finds itself under some level of water more years than not, so flood preparation is key for both safety and the preservation of property.
Even an official flood preparation handout from the city notes that preparation for a worst-case scenario is proper: “Remember, the next flood can always be bigger than floods you have seen before.”
The most important steps, according to the city, are keeping family and property prepared.
Making sure family members understand emergency procedures, such as whom to notify in case of flooding, is important, as is knowing the safest route to higher ground from home or businesses.
“Establish meeting places and phone numbers in case family members are separated by rising flood waters,” and “teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity and water lines,” are just two of the many “before a flood” tips offered by the city.
Storing valuables at higher levels, such as on a second story, if possible, and the need to keep household chemicals above flood levels are other important steps.
A disaster supply kit is recommended by both the city and emergency experts, and should include a portable radio – a NOAA weather radio is strongly recommended — emergency cooking equipment, flashlights with fresh and extra batteries, non-perishable food and drinking water, essential medications and a first-aid kit.
Residents are encouraged to keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local station if flood waters are eminent, and if a resident is trapped by rising waters, they should first dial 911 to seek help and then move to a higher spot inside the building, or to the roof if necessary.
“Be prepared to evacuate,” city emergency officials said, “and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately. Evacuation is much simpler and safer before flood waters become too deep for ordinary vehicles to drive through.”
If evacuating by car, do not drive where water is over the road or past barricaded road signs. If the car stalls in a flooded area, “abandon it as soon as possible and walk to safety in the direction you came from,” is the city’s recommendation.
Upon returning home after the floodwaters recede, residents are urged to first check for structural damage, and to be cautious of potential gas leaks, electrical shorts and live wires.
Property owners should consider purchasing flood insurance, according to the city.
“Homeowners’ insurance does not cover flood loss,” the city’s flood-tips program states, but adds that most insurance agents offer flood insurance. “Anyone can get flood insurance, even if you are located in an area not mapped as a floodplain, or even if you have never been flooded before.”
The city, along with officials from Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, will host a pair of meetings Friday, Nov. 7 at the Snoqualmie Fire Station. The first meeting, from noon to 4 p.m., is for insurance agents. A second meeting, starting at 6 p.m., is for homeowners.
For more information on flooding and flood preparation, go to http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding.aspx
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