King County Executive Ron Sims effectively declared a state of emergency Jan. 8 as authorities intensified emergency flood relief efforts, trying to help residents living in areas most impacted by this week’s severe weather.
In response to record river flows, flooding, land slides and other damage from severe weather, King County Executive Ron Sims this morning signed a Local Proclamation of Emergency to help county staff continue their quick response to damage.
The proclamation allows a waiver from standard procurement procedures to speed up response and turn around times for departments who need to make repairs or do other work to King County equipment and facilities.
King County staff in Roads, flood control, Emergency Management and other departments and offices have been working around the clock and in 12-hour shifts in some cases to clear slides, close dangerous flooded roads, monitor levees and other flood control facilities and coordinate with cities and other jurisdictions impacted by the flooding rivers.
Public Health – Seattle & King County is providing the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department with cots for evacuated nursing home residents. Metro Transit provided buses Wednesday to help with the evacuation of a nursing home in North Bend.
King County’s Office of Emergency Management has activated its Emergency Coordination Center and is on a 24 hour schedule to provide regional coordination of resources and information. King County Flood Patrol Crews are also on 24-hour operations as they continue visual checks of levees and other flood control structures.
Rain is slowing across the region and while most rivers are receding this afternoon, some rivers have yet to peak. In fact, King County’s Flood Warning Center has reported the highest flow in more than 45 years on the Tolt River northeast of Duvall. Residents are reminded to use caution when traveling and not to drive through standing water as it may be deeper than it appears, and hide a sinkhole or unstable roadway.
For more information about flood conditions, resources, and safety tips, visit www.takewinterbystorm.org or call King County Office of Emergency Management at 206-296-3830.
