Residents encouraged to prepare for flood season in Thurston County

Thurston County Emergency Management is urging residents to prepare for the upcoming flood season, know the risks involved and be ready for what fall and winter could bring.

The agency issued guidance on the issue in a news release on Monday, Oct. 19.

“Flooding is a recurring hazard in Thurston County, and we know that major flooding can have significant impacts on our communities,” said Thurston County Emergency Manager Kyle Bustad in a statement included in the 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.”

Precautionary measures

• 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 your emergency plan 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. Turn around, don't drown.

• Explore flood insurance policies through the National Flood Insurance Program.

Know your flood risk

The agency said flooding can occur in several ways in the county, and cited four principle sources:

• Riverine flooding occures when rivers and streams exceed their normal capacity.

• Groundwater flooding happend  when rising groundwater saturates normally dry areas.

• Tidal flooding occures when tidal conditions contribute to flooding.

• Urban flooding happens 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," said the agency in the news release.

"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."

Emergency alert system

Thurston County Emergency Management will perform a trial of the official TC Alert emergency notification and warning system, as part of Flood Awareness Week this week. Residents who signed up for the platform may receive a test notificiation during the testing period.

For more information about emergency planning and flood preparedness, click here.