As fall and winter approach, Thurston County Emergency Management is reminding residents that now is the time to prepare for flooding and understand their household's risk.
Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards affecting Thurston County. Flood risk isn't limited to major rivers — heavy rainfall, saturated soils, rising groundwater and overwhelmed drainage systems can all create flooding in different parts of the county.
“Flooding is a recurring hazard in Thurston County, and we know that major flooding can have significant impacts on our communities,” Kyle Bustad, Thurston County emergency manager, said in a news release. “The good news is there are simple steps residents can take now to better prepare themselves, their families, and their property before the next major storm.”
Flooding can occur in several ways throughout Thurston County. The four principal sources are:
• Riverine flooding — when rivers and streams exceed their normal capacity
• Groundwater flooding — when rising groundwater saturates normally dry areas
• Tidal flooding — when tidal conditions contribute to flooding
• Urban flooding — when heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems and creates localized flooding
Residents do not necessarily have to live directly next to a major river to experience flooding. Heavy rainfall, saturated soils, rising groundwater, snowmelt and rain-on-snow events can all contribute to flooding. Flooding is most common during the fall and winter months, making early preparation especially important.
Thurston County Emergency Management encourages residents to:
• Know whether their home, workplace or regular travel routes are vulnerable to flooding
• Build or update an emergency supply kit
• Keep important documents and valuables in a safe location above potential flood levels
• Make a plan for where to go if you need to leave your home
• Include pets in emergency plans and have supplies ready for them
• Keep vehicles fueled and prepare an emergency kit for your vehicle
• Monitor weather conditions and changing flood risks
• Never drive through a flooded roadway
• Explore flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
As part of Flood Awareness Week, Thurston County Emergency Management will conduct a test of the TC Alert emergency notification system. Residents who are registered for TC Alert may receive a test notification during the testing period.
The test will help Emergency Management evaluate the system and give residents an opportunity to become familiar with what an emergency notification may look like before a real emergency occurs.
Visit TCAlert.org to sign up for emergency notifications.
