Auburn levee patrols report no flood concerns on Green River

The City of Auburn has activated the Emergency Operations Center to Level I (monitoring) to monitor flows on the Green River.

December 13, 2010 1:16 pm
The swollen Green River weeps into Auburn's Isaac Evans Park along the Green Valley Road. The river ran high and swift as crews walked the banks to inspect levees. No significant flooding occurred during the heavy weekend rain.
The swollen Green River weeps into Auburn's Isaac Evans Park along the Green Valley Road. The river ran high and swift as crews walked the banks to inspect levees. No significant flooding occurred during the heavy weekend rain.

The City of Auburn has activated the Emergency Operations Center to Level I (monitoring) to monitor flows on the Green River.

The Green River is at Flood Phase III, meaning that minor flooding may be experienced in lowlands upstream from Auburn. At this time, there is no threat of flooding on the Green River or a threat of the river overtopping. The activation and monitoring is precautionary only and river levels are not expected to reach flood levels inside the city limits of Auburn.

The patrols reported no concerns on the Green River. Patrols will do another inspection later today.

The Green River upstream of Auburn will hover at or just below flood stage today, producing minor flooding in the rural area east of Highway 18 that is not protected by levees.

Howard Hanson Dam is retaining water to keep flows at Auburn at or below 9,000 cubic feet per second, the trigger flow rate for a flood warning. The Army Corps of Engineers estimates that peak flows from the dam should be reached around 5 p.m. and levels will begins to subside.

Flows were expected to drop below the 9,000 cfs trigger flow at or around 1 p.m. today.

City officials are encouraging all citizens to be aware of the following flood safety tips, courtesy of the Red Cross:

• Eighty percent of those people who die as a result of flooding are in vehicles. If you come upon a barricade, turn around and go another way. If you come upon flood waters, do NOT drive through them; the road could be washed out underneath.

• If you come upon flood waters or a flowing stream where water is above your ankles, STOP, turn around and go another way. Never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. Many people are swept away, resulting in injury or death.

• Never play around high water, creek and stream banks, storm drains, ditches, ravines or culverts in flooded and recently flooded areas. The soaked banks often become unstable due to heavy rainfall. Flood waters may still be rising and it is very easy to be swept away. Stay away.

• Be aware of flood hazards. Floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic debris slides.

• Regardless of how a flood or flash flood occurs, the rule for being safe is simple: Head for higher ground and stay away from flood waters. The most dangerous thing you can do is to try walking, swimming, or driving through flood waters.

For more information, contact the City of Auburn Emergency Management Office at 253-876-1925. In the event of an emergency, call 911.