For the first time since the completion of the Howard Hanson Dam in 1961, King County is preparing for potentially serious flooding in the Green River Valley this fall and winter. Cultural organizations in Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, Renton and unincorporated areas of the river’s historic flood plain are advised to prepare for flooding events before the rainy season begins.

Last year’s record rain and snowfall damaged the flood-control dam, limiting the amount of water that can be held in its reservoir. In the upcoming rainy season, when the reservoir level reaches a critical point, the Army Corps of Engineers will release storm water to prevent further damage or collapse of the dam. Depending on rainfall amounts, water releases could be sustained and frequent, causing floods several feet deep.

Before discharging water, the Corps will provide warnings to downstream residents and businesses, which may provide enough time to evacuate, but little time to protect property or equipment. In addition, transportation routes may be under water and transit service disrupted. Power outages and sewage back-ups are possible even outside the immediate flood zone.

The Army Corps of Engineers is working to find a solution to structural issues affecting the dam, but a permanent repair may take 3-5 years to complete. In the meantime, the lower Green River Valley will be threatened by seasonal flooding not seen in fifty years.


4Culture encourages the cultural community to find out if they are at risk, and to take measures to protect themselves from flood damage. Below are a few resources to help you.


Who to Call:
Organizations and individuals wanting to find out if they are located in a flood zone can contact their local Emergency Manager:
Renton – Deb Needham    425-430-7027
Kent – Dominic Marzano 253- 856-4300
Auburn – Sarah Miller    253-876-1909
Tukwila – Jim Morrow    206-433-0179
Unincorporated King County – King County Office of Emergency Management  206-296-3830 or Toll Free: 800-523-5044


Public Meeting/Workshops:
Emergency Preparedness Fair
September 17, 2009
11a.m. – 1p.m.
Room 121 and 123 – Chinook Building, Seattle
Contact: Sherry Hamilton 206.263.9010 or sher...@kingcounty.gov

Protecting Library & Archive Collections: Disaster Preparedness, Response & Recovery
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Odegaard Undergraduate Library Room 220, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
Contact: Kathy Krause kra...@plsinfo.org (Pre-registration http://tiny.cc/ZePOL)


Websites:
http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan.aspx
http://www.kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/


Resources:
Green River Flooding, Are You Ready?
Before and After: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions