Preparing for high winds, heavy rain and flooding

When heavy rains and winds are forecast for our area, it’s always good to know what procedures you should think of taking to be better prepared and the resources that are available to you in case there is a problem, especially when flooding and high winds are involved.

The following are some of the resources you should be familiar with:

Sandbags are available

Sandbags are available for filling for free at several locations in King County. For more information, visit kingcounty.gov/sandbags or call 206-477-4812 (language interpretation available).

Stay safe and remember to:

Never walk or drive over flooded roads or standing water. For more information, visit the National Weather Service’s Turn Around Don’t Drown page.
Contact the 24/7 Road Helpline at 206-477-8100 if you see something on the road. For the most up-to-date information on road closures and lane restrictions in unincorporated King County, visit the MyCommute page (kingcounty.gov/MyCommute).
Avoid touching flood water, which can have sewage and other chemicals. Wash hands and pets after any contact with flood water. Throw out any food from gardens that have touched flood water.
Wear gloves, goggles, an N95 mask, and protective gear when cleaning after a flood to protect from cuts, sewage, mold, and other health risks.
Have a septic system? Don’t use the system during a flood, visit https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/wastewater-management/septic-system/floods for tips on how to manage sewage impacts.

Landslides

Landslides are an increasing threat as hillsides become saturated with water. The King County Office of Emergency Management offers these signs of an impending landslide:

Bulging ground at the base of a slope
Outside walls, walkways, or stairs pulling away from structures
Widening cracks in the ground or on paved areas such as streets or driveways
New cracks appearing in plaster, tile, brick, or foundations
Water breaking through the ground in new locations
Fences, retaining walls, utility poles, or trees tilting or moving

Visit kingcounty.gov/landslide for more information.

Power outages

If you experience a power outage, you can contact your provider by going to:

The Puget Sound Energy outage map or <“https://www.pse.com/en/outage”>Report an outage page
Seattle City Light – View and report outages page
The Tanner Electric outage map

Downed trees (not on a road in unincorporated King County)

If the downed tree is on a power line, report to power company or call 911. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or SPU at SPU at 206-684-3000.
If the downed tree is on private property, it is the property owner’s responsibility.
If the tree has fallen from King County property onto or blocking private property, customers can file a claim with King County.

The following resources, available in multiple languages, may also be helpfu:

The Be Flood Ready brochure has information about what to do before, during, and after a flood. (King County Flood Control District)
Flood recovery resources, organized in two sections: ‘Health and safety after a flood’ and ‘Cleaning up after a flood.’ In-language materials are available on this website in Khmer, Spanish, and Vietnamese. (Public Health-Seattle and King County)

Thank you for reading and sharing this information and helping to keep our community safe!