County opens Flood Warning Center as Green River rises from dam releases
Published 9:47 am Friday, December 30, 2011
The King County Flood Warning Center has issued a Phase II flood alert level for the Green River, where controlled water releases from a dam could result in very minor flooding along portions of the river without levees upstream of Auburn.
The Flood Warning Center opened at 4 p.m. Thursday to closely monitor conditions.
Flows on the Green River at Auburn are expected to reach or exceed 7,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) late Thursday, as a result of planned releases from Howard Hanson Dam, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ flood-control dam in the upper Green River watershed.
Releasing water from the dam now provides the Corps with additional flood-storage capacity for anticipated heavy rainfall in the coming days.
A Phase II flood alert level is the level of the County’s four-phase warning system at which the Flood Warning Center activates to monitor conditions.
Earlier Thursday, the Flood Warning Center closed following a one-day, round-the-clock activation to monitor rising flows on the Snoqualmie River, which rose to a Phase II flood alert level as a result of heavy rainfall in the area.
King County staff will continue to monitor stream gages and weather reports, and will provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Real-time river level information is available online at www.kingcounty.gov/flood.
Updated information on flooding will also be posted on the King County website at www.kingcounty.gov, or via RPIN, the area’s regional website at www.rpin.org. 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. Problems on county maintained roads can be reported by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.
An automated flood alert system is now available and provides real-time warning of potential high water on more than a half-dozen rivers. King County residents and business owners can sign up to receive King County Flood Alerts by visiting www.kingcounty.gov/flood, or by calling 206-263-3400 during regular business hours to register by phone. Messages of potential high flows on any of King County’s major river systems can be sent by phone, text or email.
