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ThursTon CounTy Flood BulleTin
Preparedness Information Fall 2008
Dear Neighbor, Phone Alert Test:
We’ve sent this bulletin to you
because your property is in the 100- Oct. 27-31
year floodplain or in a groundwater Subscribers of the Thurston County
flooding area. We hope this telephone alert system will receive
information will help you protect a test call between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
your home and family. during the week of Oct. 27-31.
The Hanukkah Eve Storm You don’t have to be home during
of 2006 and last December’s the test. If you have any questions or
devastating flooding of the do not receive a test call that week,
Chehalis River underscored the please contact us at (360) 754-3360.
importance of the “72 Hour” Please Note: If you are not a
preparedness rule. system subscriber, you will not receive
Disasters can be so over- a test call. See article on page 2 to find
whelming that demand often out how to subscribe. It’s free!
exceeds available resources,
leaving people on their own
sometimes for days before outside
help arrives. Sample Message
That’s why this year’s Flood
Bulletin contains information on This is Thurston County Emergency
preparedness tips for your home, Management with an important
vehicle, and family. Thank you message about the Deschutes River.
for taking the time to be prepared. Today is Monday, April 30 at 1 p.m.
The gage near Rainier registered
Kathy Estes nine feet at noon. It’s expected to
Kathy Estes reach flood stage, 11 feet, by 6 p.m.
Thurston County Emergency Residents should be prepared to take
Management steps to protect life and property on
short notice.
Protect Your Home: Flood Insurance
1. Federal disaster aid will reimburse me for property loss. Won’t it?
No. FEMA aid is limited and only available when the
president declares a disaster. Not all floods, even those causing
thousands of dollars of damage, are federally declared disasters.
Federal aid may often be in the form of a loan that you must
pay back with interest. Flood insurance policies pay claims
whether or not a disaster is declared.
2. My home was previously flooded. Will I be able to buy flood
insurance? Yes.
3. Is flood insurance only available to homeowners?
No. Flood insurance is also available for farm and commercial structures.
Content coverage is available to renters as well.
4. Are there any requirements about rebuilding my home if damaged by flood?
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires that if the cost
of reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvements to your home
equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, then the building must
meet the same construction requirements as a new building. Call the county’s
Development Services office at 786-5490.
5. Where do I purchase flood insurance?
National Flood Insurance, a federal program, is sold through many private
insurance companies. If you have a problem purchasing flood insurance through
your agent, call the NFIP at 1-888-379-9531. See www.floodsmart.gov for more
information.
Act Today!
There is a 30-day waiting period
after the first premium is paid
before the policy is effective.
Good News!
Through mitigation and preparedness actions, Thurston County
has earned a 25% discount for flood insurance rates available
to residents in the unincorporated areas. This translates into an
average annual savings of $238 per property.
1.
Your Telephone Alert System
Activation What if there’s no answer?
The system is activated when, in the If there is no answer on your line after
opinion of Emergency Management, about eight rings, the system will hang
a level of warning above and beyond up and call the next number on the list.
that provided After about a 15-
by the National minute interval,
Weather Service it will try again,
and the media then a third time if
is needed to necessary.
recommend
residents take How to subscribe
action to protect Give us your
life or property (a name, residential
sample message is address, mailing
on the front page). address (if
different than
How it works your residential
County staff records a brief message address), the name of the river in
onto a computer which places calls to your area, and the telephone numbers
subscribers. When you pick up your you would like us to contact with
phone, our system plays the message. emergency notifications. You can mail,
If you have an answering machine, our phone, or fax us your information at:
system waits for a prompting tone and
plays the message for your recorder. Thurston County Emergency
Management
2703 Pacific Avenue SE, Suite B
Olympia, WA 98501-2036
Important Notice: Phone: (360) 754-3360
Alert System Limitations Fax: (360) 704-2775
Several Caller ID features You can also subscribe online at:
such as anonymous call
rejection and security screen, www.co.thurston.wa.us/em/phone
can interfere with receipt of
emergency notifications. If
you use any call screening
devices, contact Emergency
Management for more
information.
2.
County Flood Facts
Culvert on Cedar Flats Road, December 2007
S ince 1972, Thurston County has
been declared a federal disaster
area for floods 13 times. Flooding
The following are threshold marks for
the area’s major rivers:
in our county comes from several Nisqually: The National Weather
sources: the Nisqually, Deschutes, Service (NWS) issues a flood warning
Skookumchuck, Black and Chehalis (see page 7) when its forecast model
rivers, and groundwater saturation. indicates a stage of 12 feet or higher at
The groundwater flooding of 1998- the McKenna gage.
99 damaged structures, contaminated Skookumchuck: NWS flood
wells, and contributed to landslides. warning: forecasted river stage of
According to the U.S. Army Corps of 13.5 at the Bucoda gage. Low-lying
Engineers, the probable frequency of a flooding in Thurston County occurs at
groundwater flooding disaster is once a height of 15 feet; major flooding at
every 25 years. 17 feet.
The devastating potential of Chehalis: NWS flood warning:
local floods was demonstrated last forecasted stage at 14 feet at the Grand
December when the flooding of the Mound gage. Major flooding occurs
Chehalis River in the rural Rochester when gage reaches 17.5 feet.
area of Thurston County caused more Deschutes: NWS warning:
than $3 million dollars in damage to forecasted stage at 11 feet. This river
165 homes, and 63 county residents rises and falls at a faster rate than any
had to be rescued. other county river. Major flooding
occurs when the height exceeds 13.5
feet at the Vail Loop Bridge.
3.
Floodplain Benefits
F loods and floodplains are as
essential to our ecosystem as
salmon and forests. A natural
Support of natural and indigenous
vegetation
phenomenon, floods play Recreation and education such as
an important role in our at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
environment.
The county’s Floodplains and wetlands are
watersheds natural buffers that prevent
support the rich widespread flooding.
and diverse bird,
fish, and animal life that we Let’s preserve natural areas by keeping
value in the Northwest. Many human activities out of the way of
species of mammals, birds and rivers that will inevitably move.
fish live in plant communities
dependent upon wetlands and
floodplains. Other benefits include:
Maintenance of water quality by
filtering sediments, nutrients and
impurities
Preservation and recharge of
the groundwater supply: Nearly
all county residents rely on
groundwater for our drinking
water.
Stream Team!
Want to improve and maintain the health of our streams and other
local waterways? Consider joining Thurston County’s Stream
Team. Volunteers plant trees, monitor water quality, mark storm
drains, clean up streams, and participate in classes and workshops
including the popular Salmon Stewards program.
Stream Team is open to citizens of all ages, and is sponsored
by the Storm and Surface Water Utilities of Thurston County,
Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia. Complete details are available at
357-2491.
4.
There’s More Than One Type of Flood
W hen we think
of flooding,
we often envision the
rainfalls are more likely to cause the
water tables to rise and cause flooding.
These areas, called “high groundwater
type of flooding that hazard areas,” are identified on
occurred along the Thurston County’s GeoData website.
Chehalis River last year. The size and steepness of a watershed
However, Thurston also contributes to the timing and
County also experiences severity of floods. The Salmon Creek
other types of flooding. Drainage Basin, south of Tumwater, is
Much of the soil in southern Puget very large and flat, so it drains slowly.
Sound is glacial outwash, loamy sand Storms that cause “gullywashers” in
or gravelly-sandy soils that drain well. smaller, steeper watersheds can leave
The loose soils, however, allow water water sitting beneath these properties,
to travel in both directions. The very waiting for the next storm and the next.
soils that allow water to easily soak Properties in these areas are identified
into the ground also allow the water and protected through land-use
to rise back up to the surface if it hits planning and zoning regulations. The
an underlying layer of compacted soil major groundwater flooding areas are
or rock. This often results in overland the drainage basins of the following
surface flows during heavy storms. creeks: Salmon, Chambers, Yelm,
In some county areas, the gravelly- Thompson and Scatter.
sandy soils drain into underground Even if the property isn’t in a high
water tables, which can rise and flood groundwater area, check out soils and
low-lying land. If the water tables are landscape position in the watershed.
naturally close to the surface of the Homes located in tight clay soils may
land to begin with, heavy, prolonged flood during and following heavy rain.
Buying Property? Research Before Taking the Plunge!
When purchasing property, a little • Enter your street number such as
research can potentially save you “2709” (street name not required),
money and heartache. A great way and click “go.” Scroll until you find
to start is to visit Thurston County’s your address, then click on the parcel
GeoData website at www.geodata. number to see details.
org. While the maps aren’t 100 percent • Read down the page for information
accurate for every parcel, they do about your property, or click on “zoom
provide a wealth of information about map to parcel” at the top of the same
flood zones, high groundwater areas, page to see a map. Click the square and
watershed boundaries, and nearby the circle next to the feature you want
water bodies. Here’s how: to see on the map, and click “refresh.”
(Hint: To understand the color-coding
• Click on www.geodata.org and select of the zoning maps, click on “legend”
parcel search. at the top of the page.)
5.
Sand and Sandbags
Thurston County Roads supplies 4. Watch your axles. It doesn’t take
sand and sandbags during floods to much sand to overload the springs.
participating fire departments for Also, watch your back! Bend with
citizen pickup. Filled sandbags are your knees when you lift.
also available during business hours at
the Road Maintenance Shop at 9605 5. Sandbags deteriorate when
Tilley Road. Please call 754-3360 to exposed to wetting and drying for
arrange pickup. several months. If placed too early,
Here are some sandbag tips: bags may be ineffective when needed.
1. Sandbags are basically for 6. Homeowners are responsible
shallow-flow protection. Sandbags for disposal of sandbags. Please
will not seal out water, but must be do not dump sand in the road or in
used with plastic sheeting and/or waterways. Save the sand on your
plywood and pumps to protect your property for future use.
home from groundwater flooding.
7. Contact Emergency Management
2. Sandbags will not alleviate at 754-3360 for a copy of sandbag
groundwater flooding without guidelines. The county provides a
continual pumping to keep out seeping list of locations that have sandbags
water that rises between the sandbag available for residential use. Visit
wall and the protected structure. www.co.thurston.wa.us/em/sandbag.
htm for details.
3. Fill bags no more than half full.
Fold the top of the sandbag. Do not
stitch or tie. Rest bag on its folded top.
Keep the Channels Clear!
Good drainage helps reduce flooding. The county’s Roads and
Transportation Services Department monitors and clears ditches and
culverts throughout the year, with a special emphasis on problem areas in
the rainy, winter months.
Remember it’s against the law to dump trash, brush, Christmas trees,
tires, or other materials into ditches or other waterways. Help prevent
flooding by raking leaves out of street gutters and storm drains. If you
know of a clogged roadside ditch or culvert in your area, please report it to
Roads Maintenance at 786-5495.
6.
Stay Tuned: Disaster Information
Best Bet: Weather Radio! Flood Info on the Web
Want to receive up-to-the-minute Check the Emergency Management
advisories from the National Weather website at www.co.thurston.wa.us/em
Service around the clock? Pre- for flood-related media advisories
tuned, battery-powered weather and links to NWS warnings and
radios can be purchased from most USGS real-time river gage readings.
electronic stores, beginning at about You’ll also find links to FEMA,
$30. Top models feature the Washington
S.A.M.E. technology, an State Department
automatic alert that can be of Emergency
programmed to sound alerts Management, the
for selected conditions in American Red Cross
selected areas. and other disaster
management sites.
Broadcast Information
Frequency: 162.475 MH;
Channel 4
Thurston County S.A.M.E. Code:
053067 Watch? Warning?
Flood Warning System What’s the Difference?
The National Weather Service (NWS) A warning means a flood is imminent,
issues watches and warnings when generally within 12 hours, or is
forecasts indicate that rivers may occurring. When a watch is issued,
approach full bank levels. Local media prepare for the possibility of a flood.
broadcast NWS warnings. The local When a warning is issued, stay tuned
Emergency Alert System broadcaster to a local radio station for further
is KGY Radio, 1240 AM and 96.9 FM. information and be prepared to take
quick action if needed.
www.co.thurston.wa.us/em
Check out the Emergency Management website for details on:
• Current flood advisories
• News and developments
• Emergency preparedness
• Local hazard identification
7.
Evacuation Dos and Don’ts
Do not— Do—
• Walk through flowing water. • Prepare a “to-go” kit with
Drowning is the number one cause essential items such as food, water,
of flood deaths. Six inches of moving medications, a flashlight and battery-
water can knock you off your feet. operated radio. See page 13.
• Drive on • Fill your
flooded roads. vehicle’s gas
If you can’t tank.
see the road
under the • Develop an
water, don’t exit strategy that
drive it! As includes at least
little as 18 two additional
inches of reliable sources
water can float of transportation
a small car. If --a friend,
your vehicle relative or other
stalls in high means.
water, abandon
it quickly and climb to higher ground. • Tell a friend or relative when you
leave home and where you’re going.
• Drive around road barriers; the road
or bridge may be washed out. • Take copies of important documents.
Afterwards
• Watch your step! Floors can be • Discard any food that may have
covered with broken glass, nails and come in contact with floodwater.
debris. Wear sturdy boots, gloves, and
other protective gear. • Be alert for gas leaks. Inspect
damage with a flashlight. Don’t
• Beware of toxins. If smoke, use candles, lanterns or
floodwater pools around open flames unless you know the
your well casing or enters gas has been turned off and the
through the vents, treat the area has been ventilated.
water as contaminated. Do
not drink it! Test it as soon as possible. • Take care of yourself! Drink plenty
Details are available at the county’s of water, eat nutritiously, and don’t
Health Department at 786-5581. overexert yourself.
8.
7 Things
You Can Do To Protect Your Home
1. Elevate or relocate furnaces, water heaters, appliances and
electrical panels. Better yet, elevate your home above flood
elevation on a new foundation.
2. Install back-flow valves or plugs for drains, toilets and other
connections to prevent floodwaters from entering your home.
3. Make openings in foundation walls to allow water to flow in
and out. This can help prevent collapse of the walls.
4. Build and install flood shields for doors
and other openings to prevent the entrance of
floodwaters. Details at Development Services.
5. Store hazardous materials like paint, pesticides
and fertilizers off the floor. Take unwanted hazardous materials
to the HazoHouse. Details at 786-5457 or www.co.thurston.
wa.us/wwm.
6. Store important documents and irreplaceable personal objects where they will
not get damaged.
7. Install sump pumps with backup power in crawl spaces or basements.
Questions? Call the county’s Development Services office at 786-5490.
Good News
W ith help from a state grant, Thurston County is preparing to
help dozens of homeowners hard hit by last year’s flooding.
An $811,000 grant from the State Department of Community, Trade
and Economic Development (CTED) will be used to elevate up to
37 homes for low and moderate income families in the Chehalis and
Deschutes river basins. Elevation of homes will help mitigate potential
damage from future floods.
Currently the county is working with CTED officials to meet all
grant requirements. Pending the results of a required environmental
assessment now underway, county staff will begin outreach to
potential beneficiaries.
9.
Minimize Local Flooding:
Keep Storm Drains Clean
S torm drains, also called catch
basins, are common throughout
many parts of Thurston County. They
During heavy rains, leaves, fir tree
needles, dirt and trash are quickly
swept into storm drains, often
feature a grate or curb inlet where clogging them and causing localized
stormwater runoff flooding. You can
enters the catch basin. help by taking
Contrary to popular preventive measures.
perception, water Never sweep or
draining into a catch hose landscaping
basin does not end materials such as
up in a wastewater beauty bark into the
treatment plant; instead street or gutter area.
it flows to a local By keeping leaves,
stream, waterway or bark, and other
retention pond. debris out of streets
Beneath the grate is a vault or sump and gutters, you can prevent problems
designed to capture sediment, debris, from occurring.
and other pollutants. Catch basins If localized flooding occurs in your
provide pre-treatment, capturing large neighborhood’s streets during heavy
sediments before stormwater is moved rain, grab that yard rake and safely
to a local retention pond. rake the drain clear of clogging debris.
Building? Be Safe, not Sorry!
The county regulates floodplain development to protect the public and minimize
flood losses. We require that homes vulnerable to floods include flood protection
at construction. We also restrict the building of new structures
within the 100-year floodplain with limited exceptions.
Regulations control filling, tree cutting, grading, and other
development which may increase flood damage.
Information on development affecting individual lots in our
floodplains or in high groundwater areas is available at the county’s
Development Services Department.
Staff can visit your property to answer questions specific to
your site. The county also has limited historical data regarding
flooding in unincorporated Thurston County. Call 786-5490 for
complete details.
10.
Got a Plan?
Earthquakes, floods, a volcanic eruption, a flu
epidemic, ice and wind storms--these and other disasters can strike
Thurston County. Most provide little warning, sometimes none at
all. That’s why we have to be prepared today for what might happen
tomorrow. Here are four questions you and your family should consider.
How Do We Evacuate?
Create a floor plan of your home. our spouse’s work or our children’s
Mark exits, utility shut- school. Here are a few emergency
offs, and the location contact tips:
of your disaster kit(s).
Make sure all household • List work, cell
members know all and school phone
possible ways to safely numbers for each
exit your home. Share household member
this information with on an emergency
babysitters and other visitors. contact card, preferably
laminated.
Where Do We Meet? • Include secondary,
Choose locations for your landline numbers for
family or household to meet school and work.
in case you are apart when • Very important: Include the number
disaster strikes. One place of an out-of-state friend or relative to
should be near your home use as a check-in contact.
and neighborhood. Another • Each household member should
should be away from your carry a contact card in his or her purse,
neighborhood in case return to your wallet or backpack.
home is impossible.
What About Rover?
How Do We Keep in Touch? Gather emergency information for
The first thing most of us reach for your pets, including:
in a disaster is • Photos of your pet in
the phone. But case it becomes lost
local service can • Your name and
quickly become contact information
overwhelmed • Veterinarian contact
with thousands information
of calls. And, • Microchip number
in the heat of the • Medications and
moment, we may not remember or immunization records
be able to find the phone numbers for More on pet care on page 13.
11.
What’s in Your Kit?
For Your Home For Your Car
Remember the 72 Hour Rule: Store 1. Bottled water and
enough supplies to keep you and your nonperishable, high en-
family safe and healthy for at least ergy foods (e.g. raisins, granola bars)
three days at a minimum.
2. Battery-
1. Water: one gallon per powered radio,
person per day. Store in flashlight and
sealed containers. Note extra batteries
storage date and replace
every six months.
3. Blanket
2. Nonperishable 4. Booster cables
canned or packaged
food and a manual 5. Flares
can opener
6. Shovel
3. Change of
clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes 7. Bright cloth to tie on your an-
tenna as an alert in case you become
4. Blankets or sleeping bags stranded
5. First Aid kit and prescription 8. Boots, gloves and rain gear
medicines
6. Extra pair of glasses
7. Battery-powered radio, flashlight
and extra batteries.
Under the Bed
Save yourself a world of hurt by keeping these items under or beside your bed:
1. A sturdy pair of shoes. Shattered glass is common after earthquakes. Keep the
shoes in a plastic bag to protect them from broken glass and other debris. And
don’t forget the socks!
2. A flashlight with fresh batteries
3. A pair of heavy duty gloves (also stored in a plastic bag).
12.
Your To-Go Kit
You and your family may have to
leave home with little or no warning.
Packing essentials in a backpack or
sports bag can help keep you safe,
healthy, and comfortable during your
evacuation. Some items to consider:
• Rain gear, warm clothes
• High energy food (granola bars,
raisins, etc.)
• Water (at least one quart)
Planning for Pets
• Extra eyeglasses
After every disaster, we hear
heartbreaking stories of people putting
• Flashlight, extra batteries their lives in danger by staying with
their pets when they should evacuate.
• Battery operated radio Or we hear about beloved pets left
behind. Make plans now to safeguard
• Hygiene kit your animals. Some tips:
• Emergency medical • Get your pets car-ready. Give them
information a chance to get used to travel before
an emergency. They’ll be less fearful
• Personal identification and easier to move.
• Extra set of house and car keys • Find out where you can board your
dog or cat if you have to leave home.
• First Aid kit Typically, pets are not permitted in
emergency shelters.
• Medications
• Gather supplies: Include water,
food, a pet carrier, a leash, and a
favorite toy.
• Double check that your pets have
current ID and veterinary records.
Keep these papers in your disaster kit.
13.
Planning for Special Needs
Do you have special needs? How will I communicate?
Decide what you will be able to do Make plans if you don’t have your
for yourself in a disaster and what hearing aid and if there is no ASL
help you may need. It’s a good idea to interpreter. Store pens and paper for
base your plan on your lowest level of this purpose.
functioning rather than your highest.
Moving safely
Who can you turn to? If you have a
Discuss emergency mobility disability,
help with friends, consider the
coworkers, following
neighbors, and preparations:
relatives. Inform • Store emergency
them of your needs supplies in a pack
and make sure attached to a
they know how to walker, wheelchair
operate essential or scooter.
equipment, and what • Keep a pair of
medications you heavy gloves in
take and where you your kit in case
store them. Have you have to wheel
written operating over glass or
directions attached to debris.
all equipment. • Make sure furniture is secured so it
doesn’t block your normal pathways.
Keep aids ready • Be prepared to give helpers brief
This includes extra wheelchair and accurate instructions on the safest
batteries, oxygen, medication, food for way to move you.
service animals, and other items.
Have enough medication
Always have at least a three-day Know Someone With
supply of all medications. Also keep a Special Needs?
list of all medications including dose,
frequency and name of prescribing If you know people with special
doctor. needs—an elderly neighbor,
a sight-impaired coworker, a
Extra batteries wheelchair-bound friend, or
Store extra batteries for hearing aids. other acquaintances—talk with
If possible, store an extra hearing aid them now. Learn their needs and
in your disaster kit. the location and proper use of
their medication.
14.
Preparedness Talks Available
W ant a presentation on emergency
preparedness designed for
your workplace, neighborhood, or
Telephone Alert Test:
Oct. 27 - 31
community group? It’s just a phone
call away.
Thurston County Emergency
Management offers a public education
program to improve individual and
family emergency preparedness.
The program builds upon the “3
Days, 3 Ways” concept: Have a Plan,
Have a Kit, Get Involved!
If you’d like to schedule a
presentation or learn about other
neighborhood opportunities, please
contact Vivian Eason, Thurston County
Emergency Management, at (360)
786-5243 or email her at easonv@
co.thurston.wa.us
PRSRT STD
Thurston County US POSTAGE
Flood Bulletin PAID
OLYMPIA, WA
PERMIT NO. 78
Emergency Management
Water & Waste Management
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