EMERGENCY CONTACTS. Flood Warning System. Pierce County Contact Information PIERCE COUNTY ALERT! EMERGENCY FLOOD INFORMATION

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1 Flood Warning System Go to and click on Flood Warning System to view information on predicted and current flooding conditions on major rivers. Call the hotline at (253) for information during floods. For weather and flood information, use a weather radio, or go to Flood information will be broadcast on local TV news (KOMO 4, KING 5, KIRO 7, KSTW 11, or KCPQ 13) and local radio (KIRO 97.3 FM and KOMO 1000 AM). Flood evacuation orders generally provide residents at least one hour advance notice. PIERCE COUNTY ALERT! Sign up for the Pierce County Alert Program to get emergency alerts by phone, text message, or TTY/ TTD. Call (253) or go to to sign up. EMERGENCY CONTACTS Life-threatening emergencies Sheriff (non-emergency) (253) National Weather Service (206) Official flood watches, warnings, and forecasts Radio Emergency Alert (tune to) AM (KIRO) FEMA Disaster help and resources American Red Cross (253) Disaster/emergency services (253) National Flood Insurance Program or call your insurance agent Pierce County Contact Information Pierce County Flood Information (253) hour hotline with updated flood information F EMERGENCY FLOOD INFORMATION Pierce County Emergency Flood Information 24-hour hotline with flood updates (253) Pierce County Emergency Operations Center Staffed 24/7 during emergencies (253) National Weather Service American Red Cross - Rainier Chapter (253) National Flood Insurance Program Cut here Pierce County Emergency Management.... (253) Pierce County Responds (253) Report dumping or floodplain violation Report on-line: Pierce County Sustainable Resources (253) Information about removal/disposal of disaster debris Pierce County Surface Water Management..(253) Report Water Pollution (253) November Fairfax Forest Puyallup Reserve River Pierce County Planning & Land Services.....(253) Building, site development, zoning, and land use permits If you live within a city or town, contact your local building department for permit information and to report violations.

2 2702 South 42nd Street, Suite 201 Tacoma, WA Pierce County Flood Bulletin Be prepared for flood season! Pierce County Flooding Your property is in or near a flood hazard area. Do you know your home s flood risk? Are you prepared for flooding? Look inside and on the web for important flood information. In this flood bulletin: Get Ready, Stay Ready! Emergency contacts Flood insurance information On the Web: Flood risk maps of your property Flood warning system Flood updates November Fairfax Forest Reserve For more information, scan here or visit Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle.

3 Flood Buy Out Program Works With Property Owners The flood buyout program allows Pierce County to purchase flood-damaged property from willing sellers by using Federal grants intended to reduce future flood losses. By moving people out of harm s way permanently, we can significantly reduce flood losses in our community. Troubled Waters: Landowner Experiences with Flood Buyout Program is a film shot in Pierce County about the flood buy-out program. To watch it online, go to and click on Troubled Waters. Know Your Home s Flood Risk For a free floodplain map of your property, contact Surface Water Management at (253) or pcwater@co.pierce.wa.us. Please include your parcel number or address in your request. To view your property s flood risk online: Go to click on E Services Click on About My Property; accept Terms of Use Select Search by parcel or address; enter your parcel number or address Click on Tell Me More next to Flood If you have questions about your property s flood risk, please contact Pierce County Planning and Land Services at (253) or pcpals@co.pierce.wa.us. Development Requirements Pierce County has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program since The program requires that the county adopt and enforce minimum floodplain development regulations to reduce future flood risks. In return, the federal government makes flood insurance available for protection against flood losses. Damaged property purchased through the flood buyout program For more information about protecting your property, visit www. ready.gov/floods. Click on More Information for a list of free publications. Free map showing mapped floodplain on a parcel River Most building, clearing, and excavation activities in Pierce County require a permit. Go to Pierce County Planning and Land Services for permitting information at or call (253) To report potential illegal development, call (253) If you live in an incorporated area, please contact your city or town. County code requires that if the cost of repairs or improvements to a damaged building equals or exceeds 50 percent of the building s value, the activity is considered substantial improvement. This may require the building to be brought up to current development standards in order to reduce future flood risks. Contact Pierce County Planning and Land Services for more information. Keep storm drains, culverts, and roadside ditches clear of leaves and other debris to prevent flooding in your road. Protect Your Property Keep roadside ditches, culverts, and storm drains near your home clear of leaves, garbage and other debris. It s illegal to dump debris into a river, stream, storm drain, pond or other drainage system. Call (253) to report dumping. Move furnaces, appliances, electric panels, and other electronics above flood level. Keep materials like sand, plywood, plastic sheeting and a sump pump on hand for use during flood events. Consider long-term flood protection measures, such as elevating your house or relocating. Avoid building new structures in flood-prone areas.

4 Flooding in Pierce County Winter storms between November and March are responsible for most flooding in Pierce County. The areas most affected are near: Puyallup, Carbon, White and Nisqually rivers Creeks such as Muck, Clover, Clear and South Prairie Since 1962, major flooding has led to fifteen presidentially declared disasters in Pierce County. The frequency of flooding in Pierce County has led to multiple approaches to flood management. Engineered Log Jam The rivers in Pierce County behave differently than many other rivers in Western Washington. Most major rivers in Pierce County start from glaciers on Mt. Rainier. Glacial rivers carry up to 13 times more sediment than other non-glacially fed rivers. As these rivers flow out of the mountains and reach the flat valley floors, their speed decreases, allowing the sediment, rocks, sand and gravel to settle out in the river channel. Managing this unique system is a challenge in Pierce County. Natural Benefits of Floodplains A floodplain is the area that stores water during a flood event. Not only do undeveloped floodplains reduce the frequency, severity and duration of high water flows, they provide other year-round benefits. Floodplains provide fertile soil for farming, habitat for fish and wildlife and scenic areas for recreation. They also provide erosion control during high flows and filter pollutants for better water quality. Historically, development regulations did not restrict building in floodplains. Consequently, existing development in floodplains is at risk during floods. Over the years, Pierce County has purchased and acquired properties in floodplains, permanently reserving these areas to reduce flood hazards and improve fish and wildlife habitat. Planting trees along Ohop Creek Flood Control Zone District Approves Plan Providing Funding For 2014 Projects The Pierce County Flood Control Zone District approved a Capital Improvement Program designating which construction projects will be funded in Among the projects the district is providing funding toward are: The Calistoga Setback Levee in Orting and a floodwall to protect the City of Tacoma s wastewater treatment plant. The district was created April 3, 2012, by the Pierce County Council with the purpose of addressing flood hazards in the county. County Council Members serve as the Board of Supervisors of the district. An advisory committee, comprised of 15 members, provides input to the Board of Supervisors. Members of the committee include representatives from several cities, Pierce County, a business association, the Port of Tacoma and the County Executive. To learn more about the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District, visit

5 Get Ready, Stay Ready! Before a Flood: Prepare Know if you are in a flood-prone area. For a free map showing the flood risk on your property, call (253) or pcwater@co.pierce.wa.us. Buy flood insurance. Visit or contact your insurance agent. Develop an emergency plan for your family, farm or business. Know several safe routes from your home, school or business to high ground. Establish meeting places in case family members are separated. Designate an out-of-state contact to call if local lines are busy or down. Assemble an emergency kit. For more information, visit For emergency pet sheltering services, contact PCART at (253) Move vehicles, equipment, livestock and pets to higher ground. Store valuables and household chemicals above flood levels. Ensure underground storage tanks are fully sealed and secure. Get sand and sandbags ahead of time and learn how to use them. During a Flood: Be Safe Do not walk, wade or drive through flooded areas. Monitor local news for emergency updates. Be prepared to evacuate. If you are advised to evacuate, do so immediately. If your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it and walk to safety in the direction you came from. Follow recommended evacuation routes - shortcuts may be blocked. If you are unable to safely leave a building due to rising water, call 911. Then, move to a higher floor or the roof. Take warm, weatherproof clothing, a flashlight, a cell phone and a battery or solar powered radio. If you have time before evacuating, close your main gas valve and turn off all utilities at the main power switch. Do not touch any electrical equipment unless it is in a dry area. After a Flood: Use Caution Listen to local news, and only go home when authorities say it s safe. Before re-entering your home, be cautious of potential structural damage, gas leaks, electrical shorts and live wires. Have a professional check your heating, electrical panel, outlets,and appliances for safety before using. Call utility companies to have utilities turned back on. For safe clean up of food, water supply and property, visit Document your losses, photograph damages, record repair costs and contact your insurance agent for flood loss claims. Mark the highest point where water was in your home or damaged structure. Pump-out flooded basements gradually (about one-third of the water per day) to avoid structural damage.

6 Important Flood Insurance Information Did you know Pierce County residents can get up to a 40 percent discount on flood insurance? Flood insurance is the only sure way to be reimbursed for flood losses. There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period on all new flood insurance policies. Call or go to for a list of local agents. Use the site s One-Step Flood Risk calculator to rate your flood risk, estimate premiums and find an agent. The standard homeowner or business insurance policy does not cover damage caused by flooding. To protect your property, you must buy a flood insurance policy. An elevation certificate may be required to purchase flood insurance. Contact Pierce County Planning and Land Services at or to find out if one is already on file. Federally backed mortgages require that homes within a FEMA designated flood hazard zone have flood insurance in order to protect the mortgage investment. November 2006 January 2009 Property owners and renters in unincorporated Pierce County can receive up to a 40 percent discount on annual flood insurance premiums. The average flood insurance premium in Pierce County is $526 per year. Flood insurance policies generally cover structures. Coverage for contents is optional. Contact your insurance agent to help you choose the right policy for your property. Document your property and belongings before flooding occurs. Federal disaster assistance is available only if the President declares a disaster. Typically, assistance is a loan that must be repaid with interest. For a $50,000 loan at 4 percent interest, your monthly payment would be $240 a month for 30 years. Compare that to a $100,000 flood insurance premium, which is about $400 a year. Being outside the designated flood hazard zone does not ensure you won t flood. On average, 25 to 30 percent of all flood insurance claims are for property outside designated flood zones. Be Prepared For Winter! Pierce County urges residents to be prepared for winter weather. There are many simple, effective steps people can take so they aren t left out in the cold! Visit During the Flood Emergency Flood Supplies 1. Monitor local news for emergency updates. 2. Do not walk or drive through flooded areas - unseen hazards can be deadly. Monitor local road conditions and obey road closure signs. Out-of-State Emergency Contact Name and Phone Number(s) January Battery or crank-operated radio and extra batteries 2. First aid kit/supplies 3. Prescription medicine 4. Whistle to signal for help 5. Copies of important documents in plastic bag 6. Flashlight and extra batteries 7. 3-day supply food and water 8. Clothing, blankets, boots 9. Hygiene/sanitation supplies 10. Cash (ATMs won t work without electricity. Small bills are best)