Councilmember Dunn tours the Cedar River with King County staff.
It’s hard to believe, but October—and the start of flood season—is just a few days away. Now is a good time to make sure you and your family are prepared for potential flooding.
The King County Flood Control District’s Be Flood Ready webpage serves as a comprehensive, easy-to-understand flood preparedness guide that combines public safety information, emergency planning resources, flood insurance education, stewardship messages, and updates on the King County Flood Control District’s work.
Watch this video to learn more about how you and your family can be flood ready.
Click on the picture to watch the video.
Here are some steps you can take to be safe before any flooding occurs:
- Read the Flood Control District’s annual Be Flood Ready Brochure. It has great information on flood preparation, provides river flood phase information, and is interpreted in over 20 languages.
- Check out the Flood Risk Map to see if you are located within a floodplain.
- Get Flood Insurance. Most homeowners and renters insurance policies do not cover damage caused by flooding, so ask about flood insurance coverage.
- Sign up for free automated Flood Alerts via e-mail, text, or voice messaging to receive alerts on the river(s) that impact you.
- Download the Flood Warning App for near-real-time river information, such as gauge data, forecasts, maps, and peak flow events.
- Safeguard your property: move vehicles, equipment, and valuables to higher ground; anchor fuel tanks and store chemicals above flood levels; and install check valves in sewer traps to prevent backups.
- If heavy rain or flooding is forecast, place sandbags to block water from entering buildings. Sandbags are a simple, yet effective way to prevent or reduce flood water damage. Sandbag materials are free to King County residents.
- Learn how to build, maintain, and store a disaster supply kit.
- Explain flood dangers to younger family members. Public Health – Seattle & King County have great resources to help explain disasters and emergencies including Disaster Buddies coloring book and In Deep Water, a Survivor Tales comic book.
- Flooding can impact everyone. Make It Through has resources and helpful checklists for hearing challenges, mobility challenges, people with disabilities, special medical needs, visually impaired, and service animals.
- King Tides are the highest predicted tides of the year. They are above the highest water level reached by an average daily high tide. Costal communities should take precautions during King Tides as they may cause local tidal flooding. When a King Tide coincides with a heavy rain event, the flood risks can increase. The King County Flood Control District relies on the University of Washington’s King Tide Calendar for the predicted King Tides in the King County/Seattle area.
Below is an update from Puget Sound Energy:
We’re preparing for power outages.
Wind and rain are expected Friday as an unseasonably strong weather system moves through the region. With trees and vegetation still fully leafed out, winds may bring branches and trees into power lines, potentially causing outages.
We understand how difficult it is to be without power. Our teams are ready to respond and crews will remain in the field to assess damage and restore power as long as it is safe. If your power goes out, we'll work around the clock to restore it as quickly and safely as possible.
As we get ready, we encourage our customers to do the same:
- Charge cell phones and other essential devices.
- Make sure you have emergency supplies at home and in your vehicle, including flashlights, extra batteries, food, water and blankets.
- Have a battery-powered radio ready to go.
- Download the PSE mobile outage app to track and report outages or visit pse.com/outagemap.
- Find more preparedness tips at pse.com/storm.
Remember, Safety First:
- Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized.
- Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.
- If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
- Always use flashlights instead of candles.
- Be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning: Never install or use a generator indoors or in enclosed or partially enclosed areas, even those that are ventilated.
Did you have a chance to read my op-ed in The Reporter newspapers about how King County should lead the way on reforming government to prevent financial waste and misuse? If not, you can still read it here.
King County could be an example of accountable government | Reagan Dunn
Click on the image to open the article.
“At a time of skyrocketing housing costs, fuel prices, and grocery bills, the stream of reports about official misconduct continues seemingly unabated…Americans are asking government at all levels to earn back their trust. King County should lead the way by answering the call.”
–King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn
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