When destructive floodwater in the winter of 1959-60 engulfed homes, businesses and roads in the Snoqualmie and Green River valleys and beyond, it was clear a method to alert floodplain residents and property owners to the danger of flooding had become critical.

“It is a credit to our leaders a half a century ago to understand the need, particularly in light of the increased demand to develop land for neighborhoods and business areas, for the County’s first flood warning system,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

“Today King County’s flood preparedness planning is recognized as among the very best in the nation, and yet personal preparedness remains the best protection against the dangers of flooding.”

Executive Constantine today was joined by King County Flood Control District board chair and County Councilmember Julia Patterson to mark the 50th anniversary of King County’s Flood Warning Program and to strongly encourage residents and others in flood-prone areas to prepare for potentially nasty weather.

Recognizing October as Flood Awareness Month, the leaders urged floodplain residents to prepare a flood safety plan and sign up for automated flood alerts.

“While our beautiful rivers and valleys remain the lifeblood of this region, they annually bring the potential for devastating flooding to our county,” Patterson said. “This is true today just as much as it was 50 years ago.”

During those early years, county staff used mobile radios and radio frequencies – some of which were borrowed from other agencies – to broadcast updates about rising river levels and to coordinate the emergency response to flooding and to keep residents safe.

King County’s Flood Warning Program now uses sophisticated technology to receive, analyze and interpret data in near real-time, providing citizens, partner cities and others with vital information about river levels, flood conditions and other pertinent data.

Also, in 2007, the King County Flood Control District was established to provide a proactive, regional approach to flooding as well as funding to improve the county’s nearly 500 aging and inadequate flood-protection facilities.

Patterson, whose King County Council district includes the Green River Valley, pointed out that the County offers several important tools to help residents, business owners and workers in flood-prone areas prepare for flooding, including a variety of easy-to-use online resources, such as the automated real-time flood alert notification system.

“I strongly encourage anyone who lives in, works in or commutes through a King County floodplain to sign up for ‘KC Flood Alerts,’ to receive immediate notification about pending high water by automated text message, e-mail or voicemail,” Patterson said. “We will continue to take advantage of the technology that’s available today to keep citizens safe.”

You can find the link to sign up at website, www.kingcounty.gov/flood. The website is a valuable preparedness resource, with all of the latest information about river levels and road conditions, plus weather reports and other critical links.

Preparedness doesn’t end with the cyberworld. The civic leaders stressed the importance of each family taking responsibility for its own safety, including:

• Making an emergency plan and assembling an emergency kit that includes a portable battery-powered radio, flashlight, fresh batteries, cooking equipment, non-perishable food, drinking water, medications and a first aid kit. Visit www.govlink.org/3days3ways/makeaplan.html.

• Buying flood insurance now; it takes 30 days for a policy to take effect, and a standard insurance policy will not cover flood damage. Contact your insurance agent or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

• Monitoring area news media for information if severe weather is predicted. Listen for alerts about evacuation routes, and monitor local road conditions and obey closure signs.

• Minimizing flood damage by storing valuables and electronics higher, and by moving vehicles and equipment to high ground before flood waters rise.

• Dispose of hazardous chemicals such as lawn and gardening herbicides at one of the county’s household hazardous waste sites to help reduce harmful contaminates in flood waters.

When river levels rise to a certain threshold, King County’s Flood Warning Center is opened and staffed around-the-clock to monitor river gages, weather data, dam operations and road closures. When warranted, staff are dispatched to address safety concerns, such as flooded roadways, and to check on flood control facilities.

King County staff mobilize and begin to gather, analyze and distribute flood warning information so that residents, businesses, property owners and emergency response officials can make important health and safety decisions. In most locations, the flood warning system provides at least two hours warning before floodwaters reach damaging levels. The center works in tandem with the county’s Road Services Division to give citizens up-to-date information on road closures.

During river flooding events, King County serves as a clearinghouse for information on flood conditions, operating a recorded message center with hourly updates of river gage readings, predicted flood crests, dam operations and other related information. The recorded message number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.

When the Flood Warning Center is open, citizens can directly contact King County staff with their flooding concerns and questions by calling 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932.

Questions or assistance with flooding on smaller streams or urban drainage problems can be called in to 206-296-1900 during business hours, or 206-296-8100 after hours or on weekends.

In addition, King County and the Flood Control District are readying for the flood season through participation in the Regional Disaster Plan – a system that allows agencies and businesses to coordinate their response to emergencies – and the Regional Public Information Network online news service at www.GOVLINK.org.

The service networks more than 50 participating agencies and organizations together to notify the public directly via e-mail or pager in response to a broad range of service disruptions or emergencies.

For the fourth consecutive year King County’s efforts to protect people and property have earned it the highest rating of any county in the United States under Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System. This results in a 40-percent discount in flood insurance rates for policyholders in unincorporated King County, an average savings of $370 per year.