Skip to main content Skip main menu and go to secondary menu
King County
Executive Office
Ron Sims, King County Executive 701 Fifth Ave. Suite 3210 Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-296-4040 Fax: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711
Image: King County Exeutive Ron Sims, News Release

Nov. 7, 2006, 10 p.m.

King County Flood update: Green, Cedar flows remain high

Two rivers that will experience continued high flows are the Cedar and Green rivers, where planned water releases from dams are keeping stream flows elevated.

  • As of 9 p.m., the Cedar River at Landsburg was flowing at 4,330 cubic feet per second (cfs), a Phase IV flood alert level, with moderate lowland flooding expected near the river. Potential higher flows could occur on the Cedar River because of dam operations in anticipation of additional rainfall later this week.
  • At 9 p.m. the Green River near Auburn was flowing at 11,400 cfs, which is a high Phase III flood alert level; the threshold for a Phase IV flood alert is 12,000 cfs. At its current level, moderate lowland flooding is expected within the Green River Valley above Auburn. A King County flood patrol crew will remain in the field overnight to monitor high flows on the Green River.

Elsewhere, floodwaters are receding on the Snoqualmie River in areas upstream of the town of Carnation, plus the Tolt, South Fork Skykomish and Raging rivers, and on Issaquah Creek.

Real-time river level information is available online by visiting: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/flood/flood.htm. Residents in affected areas can get updated information on flooding on the King County Web site , or can visit RPIN, the area's regional Web site, .

A recorded flood-information hotline is also updated each hour for citizens wanting information in flood areas. The number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263. Citizens who need help interpreting flood information should call 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932.

Evacuation

To accommodate residents affected by the widespread flooding, additional shelters have opened in the Highland Community Center at 800 Edmonds Ave NE in Renton Highlands (425-766-6159) and in the South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way in Bellevue (425-452-4412).

Shelters also remain open at:

  • Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S in Issaquah (425-837-3180)
  • St. James Episcopal Church, 24447 94th Ave S in Kent (253-852-4450)
  • Cedar Crest High School, 29000 NE 150th Street in Duvall

Transportation

Tonight, King County Roads Services Division reports 42 road closures and limited road access in parts of King County, particularly in the Snoqualmie Valley. Roads closed late Tuesday afternoon include portions of Miller River Road NE and NE Money Creek Road in Skykomish. As of 9 pm, other major road closures include the entire stretch of the Carnation-Duvall Road NE in Carnation and NE Woodinville Duvall Road between SR 203 and the West Snoqualmie Valley Road in Duvall.

The list of closed roads is likely to change frequently. For more information about road conditions, visit http://www.metrokc.gov/kcdot/roads/roadalert/ or call 206-296-8100 or 1-800-527-6237.
Residents living or traveling in flood-prone areas should also continue to monitor weather conditions. Motorists are reminded never to drive through standing water or around barricades; this is how most lives are lost during flooding.

Motorists who spot problems on roads in unincorporated areas are encouraged to report them by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.

Health Information

In areas that received heavy flooding, receding water levels may create potential health risks for evacuated residents and others impacted by flood waters as they return home and begin cleaning up.

Recovery

King County Office of Emergency Management will begin collecting preliminary damage assessments for primary residences and businesses beginning on Wednesday, 11/08/06 from 8 am to 5 pm and through the coming weekend. King County residents can report flood damage by calling 800-523-5044.

This information is being collected in preparation to assist Washington State in requesting federal assistance because of this disaster. Should a federal declaration be announced for this flood event, additional information will be provided on how property owners are to file claims with FEMA.

Residents reporting damages should be prepared to provide the following information:

  1. the name and address of affected property
  2. a description of damage
  3. a personal estimate of uninsured losses, and
  4. estimates of the fair market value of damaged homes or businesses.

Do not report damage to detached garages and storage buildings, secondary homes or recreational homes. Orchards and crops should be reported to the local farm service representative and subsequently to the Washington state office of the federal Farm Service Agency (509-323-3000) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (agr.wa.gov, or 360-902-1800).
Joint Information Center PIOs can be reached at 206-205-1000.


  To top
  Updated: Nov. 7, 2006