Flooding Advice Needed

[Pritch]

The area I live in is under a very high risk of severe flooding this fall/winter and I’m coming to my WSS brethren for advice & insight. I know many of you have had to deal with flooding in your areas and may have valuable advice.

I live in the Green River Valley south of Seattle. Damage to an earthen bank adjacent to the Howard Hansen Dam has prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to decide to reduce the storage level behind the dam to one third of its usual capacity. This means they will be letting out a LOT of water in order to protect the dam from catastrophic failure. To add to the mix, many levees on the river are substandard or in bad shape, and are not expected to withstand the increased water. Finally, the valley is very close to sea level, so high tides can bring the river’s outflow to a near standstill. The cities of Auburn, Kent, Tukwila and Renton are in the downstream path between the dam and Puget Sound. Here is an article on the situation.

Our two-story townhouse is not on the valley floor, and I believe we are sufficiently high to avoid actual flood waters except in a biblical flood. One concern raised is sewer backup causing flooding inside. The county’s newest jail complex is in the valley, and part of their response plan is to release a lot of prisoners rather than evacuate them prior to flooding.

While our home is not on the valley floor, my wife works at Boeing, which is. They are taking the threat so seriously that they are spending 26 Million Dollars to build a 6 foot wall around their Kent campus in an attempt to keep flood waters at bay. If that fails, who knows how long she would be without an income. (I’m currently out of work so this would be financially disastrous.)

So, given what I have outlined above, what should my concerns be? What should I be doing to prepare? If flooding does occur, which looks rather likely, what can I anticipate? (I am not completely unprepared and I haven’t just started thinking about this, but I thought bring this to you guys would generate some good info.)

Thanks,

-- FLIX

 

[udtjim]

Here in Jamestown ND, we had out worst flooding in history this spring. I guess the thing that most caused people the most concern (besides immediate safety ) was the total lose of the city sewer system. This of course effected areas of the town that were not in the direct path of the flood. It is hard to prepare for that but it certainly is a possibility. In the lower parts of town, the water table came up higher than the sewer lines. The only choice they had was to set up eight or ten huge pumps to pump it back into the river , just circulating the whole mess.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

The obvious first step is stocking up on necessities. If it looks like the flood is coming, fill your bathtub so you'll have water if the regular system breaks down. Keep up with laundry so you won't get caught short. Keep the car's tank full.

 

[Pritch]

Thanks guys,

We have a sanitation plan in case the sewer system is inoperative for a while.
I also stockpile water but will beef this up until this threat has subsided.
I also have lighting, cooking & food storage covered in case of power interruption.
Keeping the vehicles gassed up is a generally good practice, but this threat is targeted to a particular valley situated in the greater Seattle area, so fuel access shouldn't be a problem.
We have an uphill escape/access rout from our neighborhood. It is not necessary for us to travel down into the valley to get around.
My wife works on an upper floor. So long as there is power to the building, and we have power at home, she should be able to telecommute.

Is there anything I haven't addressed?

-- FLIX

 

[Bushman5]

keep in mind that the average person uses over 500 liters a day of water. What? i dont drink that much, WTH?

think dishes, waste flushing, cooking, drinking etc

 

[go2ndAmend]

I have been through several floods and this is what I have taken away from my experiences. You can depend on only one person for the needs of your family, and that is you. You will be without electricity, sewer, water, heat, medical aid, police assistance, and possibly communications also (all my flooding experience was pre-cell phones). Know how to shut off your electric and gas. Plan for at least 72 hours without any of the above services and you will be fine. Also, store any valuables in a secure location with duplicates of important documets away from the area of expected flooding. Hope this helps.

 

[storl]

Move to Denver.

Just kidding, do what you can to prepare for catastophic failures, but don't spend all your time worrying about what could happen. As someone that lives in a county that was just declared a federal disaster relief area (or whatever they call it) because of floods, I can tell you that floods are a huge pain and a big mess, but very likely not the end of the world.

As long as you still have your life, you can always rebuild, get a new job, move, etc.

 

[skammer]

Its why I isnstalled a one way flapper valve on my sewer line. Stops seage from backing into the house. Prepare for: No electricity, water, garbage service, sewer, no police service etc...

A lot to think about.

Skam

 

[fishiker]

Thanks guys,

We have a sanitation plan in case the sewer system is inoperative for a while.
I also stockpile water but will beef this up until this threat has subsided.
I also have lighting, cooking & food storage covered in case of power interruption.
Keeping the vehicles gassed up is a generally good practice, but this threat is targeted to a particular valley situated in the greater Seattle area, so fuel access shouldn't be a problem.
We have an uphill escape/access rout from our neighborhood. It is not necessary for us to travel down into the valley to get around.
My wife works on an upper floor. So long as there is power to the building, and we have power at home, she should be able to telecommute.

Is there anything I haven't addressed?
-- FLIX

You mentioned prisoners being released. Do you feel that any would be a threat to you or your family? If so a good firearm and ammunition should be considered. I would recommend a pump shotgun and a handgun that you are comfortable shooting.

 

[Toucan Oasis]

Ditto on the weaponry. I went through 3 big hurricanes in Miami.
The dirtbags come out of the woodwork.
I'd worry more about the neighbors than the prisoners. They'll head for Florida if released.

 

[MrCoffee]

One thing a lot of people overlook or just don't think of is the local culverts. In 2005 a 4' culvert from the Cold River got backed up by debris, and the back pressue turned the normally 1ft deep, 20ft wide rive into a 20ft wall of water, nearly wiping Alstead NH off the map. One of the things I will never forget is seeing two 10000 gallon fuel tanks from the gas station in town over a mile downstream from where the station was. They were full when the flood hit. Incredible forces at work in a flood like that.

Check your local area for culverts under the road, especially up stream. Make sure the town keeps them clear, or clear them yourself. Keep a packed BOB in each car, ready to go, but also locate everything you can to the second floor. At our house, Our BOBs are stored on the second floor, with a number of emergency supplies. The closet is located just outside all three upstairs bedrooms. Add an inflatable air mattress to your supplies. Easier to inflate it, and put gear on it and drag it thru waist deep water then to try and carry it.

Most of all, be ready to go if they suggest it.

http://www.ready.gov/ is a pretty decent site for basic info. Get me your email addy and I can get you more.

 

[SIXFOOTER]

Sounds like you have it about as in hand as you can. As I was reading thru the posts I was thinking about a sewage line shutoff but then someone covered that. Also the weapon situation got covered. I don't know what your doing for water storage, but I use those collapsable water jugs for my storage, if it looks like we will get hit I fill them up and empty and store them when we are ok. Minimizes storage space. Make sure you have good deadbolts on the doors, blocksticks on the windows, alarm stickers in every window and a battery upgrade to your alarm system. A couple LED lamps on timers helps too. Dehydrated shelf stable foods, canned goods and that sort of thing you probably have covered. I use a smoker and a Vacuum food saver, handy device.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Believe it or not practice your escape plan and route, change it up a little each time, do an escape where everyones together and start the stop watch, then have the family scattered about the property or neighborhood, start a stop watch, practice meetin' up at different designated location.

Heck practice contactin' one another, so much time can be wasted if ave to track down everyone when some of them maybe safe already.

Even practice with different amounts of people, sometimes you may be home alone or maybe with a child or elderly family member, the point is by doin' drills you reduce the chances of not bein' prepared, this is why the military, LEO and Rescue Workers constantly drill, remember practice don't make it perfect but it does make it better.

One last after thought, havin' spent my life either near the ocean or within' a mile of the Delaware River with a creek in my back yard, and havin' survived more than my fair share of hurricanes and floods....


Waater rise fast durin' a flood, not the, "Oh wow, look how fast the water's commin' up fast, I mean the "Holy C**p lets go, grab yer stuff we gotta go" fast.

It took 3 minutes the last time it flooded for me to get to high ground before my entire street was inaccessible, (I live in valley).

Remember flood waters rise quick and you always have less time than you think you do.

 

[Toucan Oasis]

One very important item. Read all of the fine print in your homeowners policy.

 

[Toucan Oasis]

One very important item. Read all of the fine print in your homeowners policy.

 

[Pritch]

Thanks again, guys. This is good stuff.

Skammer - Do you have any links of additional information on the sewage line "flapper"? Is one installed on each toilet? What about sink & tub drains? (I may be prohibited from this by COA but will look into it.)

Fishiker - The county is relocating "dangerous" inmates to other facilities, and those slated for release are considered lower risk or having completed the majority of their sentence. That being said, I don't exactly trust the gubmint to not screw this up. As such Dr. FLIX is ready to prescribe a wide variety of pills of various sizes and at whatever frequency required.

T. Erdelyi - In this instance, there will likely be more warning than in "natural" flooding situations. Here, an individual is making a determination to flood out about thirty thousand people in order to not put stress on his dam. But in his benevolance, he'll at least warn us ahead of time!

Toucan Oasis - We have a regular policy as well as the FEMA flood policy. All levels of government are recommending flood insurance, so I hope they don't try to deny any claims based on this not being an "act of God."

Thanks again, everybody.

-- FLIX

 

[Hawkings]

Its why I isnstalled a one way flapper valve on my sewer line. Stops seage from backing into the house. Prepare for: No electricity, water, garbage service, sewer, no police service etc...

A lot to think about.

Skam

Working at a sewer plant (Is that the right word ? The place sewer water gets cleaned) I can honestly say this is the way to go.

You don't want sewer water in your house. there is a lot of bad stuff in sewage, that will stay behind once the water is dry and gone. Whatever sickness people have come into your house with the sewer water (Or drug needless or dead rats or .....).

A one way valve of sorts is a VERY good idea. :thumbup:

 

[Hawkings]

Thanks again, guys. This is good stuff.

Skammer - Do you have any links of additional information on the sewage line "flapper"? Is one installed on each toilet? What about sink & tub drains? (I may be prohibited from this by COA but will look into it.)

Fishiker - The county is relocating "dangerous" inmates to other facilities, and those slated for release are considered lower risk or having completed the majority of their sentence. That being said, I don't exactly trust the gubmint to not screw this up. As such Dr. FLIX is ready to prescribe a wide variety of pills of various sizes and at whatever frequency required.

T. Erdelyi - In this instance, there will likely be more warning than in "natural" flooding situations. Here, an individual is making a determination to flood out about thirty thousand people in order to not put stress on his dam. But in his benevolance, he'll at least warn us ahead of time!

Toucan Oasis - We have a regular policy as well as the FEMA flood policy. All levels of government are recommending flood insurance, so I hope they don't try to deny any claims based on this not being an "act of God."

Thanks again, everybody.

-- FLIX

All of you toilets will end in a single pipe before going in to the sewer, a single valve at this point will protect all of you toilets and tubs and stuff.

Ask a plummer about which one you should get. You might be lucky enough to not need one. not all houses are at risk.