Published: Tuesday, October 13, 2009
King County seeks ‘mega-shelters’ in case of flood
SEATTLE — The King County Council has been told that plans are being completed to evacuate up to 30,000 residents of the Green River Valley in a flood this winter.
The council was briefed by several county agencies Monday on progress to deal with a flood if the weakened Howard Hanson Dam and reservoir has to release water into the river.
Heather Kelly of the county Office of Emergency Management says up to 30,000 valley residents could be displaced, with up to 6,000 needing shelter. She says the county is working to line up “mega-shelters” — such as the state convention center or the Qwest Field event hall — to handle evacuees.
The council also was told that 13 evacuation routes have been identified in the valley, and road signs for them could be ready for installation by the end of the month.
The council was briefed by several county agencies Monday on progress to deal with a flood if the weakened Howard Hanson Dam and reservoir has to release water into the river.
Heather Kelly of the county Office of Emergency Management says up to 30,000 valley residents could be displaced, with up to 6,000 needing shelter. She says the county is working to line up “mega-shelters” — such as the state convention center or the Qwest Field event hall — to handle evacuees.
The council also was told that 13 evacuation routes have been identified in the valley, and road signs for them could be ready for installation by the end of the month.
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