Rivers Crest and Stay High-Update on Weekend Flooding

Yakima, WASH- Jan. 18, 2011


   As the Valley begins to dry out from a wet weekend, the Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management asks all citizens to be mindful of flood safety.

   Yakima County rivers have crested and while river levels will stay high for the following day, they should then begin to recede.  Any non-agricultural business/ property damage that occurred as a result of the local flooding this weekend should be reported the Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management at 509-574-1920.

   Yakima Office of Emergency Management reminds you of what you should be doing before, during, and after a flood:

Before

• Find out if you live in a flood-prone area and identify earthen, irrigation, hydro-electric, etc. dams, that are upstream from your area, and could be the source of potential problems.

• Know the terms "Flood Watch", "Flood Warning", and "Urban and Small Stream Warning".

• Plan what you would do if asked to evacuate.

• Consider purchasing flood insurance.

• Take steps to flood proof your home.

• Keep all insurance policies and your household inventory in a safe place.

During

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio, local radio or television stations for information.

• Be aware of streams, drainage canals and areas known to flood suddenly.

• People living in low-lying areas are encourage starting moving property away from the river bank and keep an eye on river levels. Motorists are also reminded not to drive through flooded areas, but instead to “turn around, don’t drown”.



• Livestock owners should also make sure higher ground is available for their animals, if living in flood prone areas.





• Secure your home. If time permits, secure items located outside the house.

• If instructed, turn off utilities at the main switches or valves.

• Fill your car with fuel.

• Fill the bathtub with water in case water becomes contaminated or services are cut off. Sterilize the bathtub first.

• Stay away from flood waters.

• Do NOT attempt to drive over flooded roads. The depth of water is not always obvious. The road bed may be washed out under the water, and you could be stranded or trapped.

After

• Stay away from flood waters.

• Stay away from moving water. Moving water six inches deep can sweep you off your feet.

• Be aware of areas where flood waters have receded and may have weakened road surfaces.

• Stay away from and report downed power lines.

• Stay away from disaster areas unless authorities ask for volunteers.

• Continue listening to the radio for event and assistance information.

• Consider health and safety needs. Wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water if you come in contact with flood waters.

• Throw away food that has come in contact with flood waters.

• Call your insurance agent.

• Take photos of or videotape your belongings and your home.

• Don't throw away damaged goods until an official inventory has been taken.

• Report damages of property or business to local Emergency Management Office.

Report any Damage to Property

Yakima, WASH- Jan. 18, 2011

Flood Warnings have been cancelled by Pendleton Weather for the Naches river.(see below). While flooding in Yakima County was limited to a few locations, the Office of Emergency Management would like to ensure all incidents of damage to property/ business are recorded.

Reporting such incidents does not obligate citizens to participate in any state/ federal programs. The estimates of damage will be tallied up on county and state reports. If a specific threshold is reached possible funds could be made available to offset economic damages.

Any non-agricultural business/ property damage that occurred as a result of the local flooding this weekend should be reported the Yakima Valley Office of Emergency Management at 509-574-1920.

Reported damage can qualify private businesses and public infrastructure for numerous relief fund programs if a certain threshold is reached. The thresholds marks vary from program to program.  The first step in establishing what the county or the state will qualify for is to get an accurate estimate of what damage has occurred.

Category: Safety
Events: Flood
ResponseType: None
Urgency: Immediate
Severity: Extreme
Certainty: Observed
Audience:
EventCode: FLW
Effective: 2011-01-17T19:20:49-00:00
Onset: 2011-01-17T19:20:49-00:00
Expires: 2011-01-17T20:20:49-00:00
SenderName: State Emergency Operations Officer
Headline: Floow Warning--CANCELLED
Description: From NWS-Pendleton: the Flood Warning for the Naches River near Cliffdell is cancelled. ts/df
Instruction: From NWS-Pendleton: the Flood Warning for the Naches River near Cliffdell is cancelled. ts/df

Heavy Precipitation Forecasted for Yakima Valley

Yakima, WA-
Heavy precipitation is forecast from today into the weekend for our area. The big questions will  be if it changes from snow to rain, how warm it will get, and whether rain will continue into Monday. The Pendleton Weather Office issued a hydrological outlook for possible small stream flooding in the Blue Mountains (Walla Walla area).

Though the NW River Forecast Center did not show much "river rise" in the forecast today, we recommend checking again as we get closer to the weekend.


Those living in flood prone areas should follow the weather reports, and keep an eye on the creek or river conditions local to their area.

                                                                        #

Links:

River Forecast Center, http://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/ - also the “Discussion” link now includes maps with temperature and precipitation forecasts.

Pendleton NWS Office, http://newweb.wrh.noaa.gov/pdt/

Bureau of Reclamation Yakima Status, http://www.usbr.gov/pn/hydromet/yakima/yakstats.txt


Long term forecast from the Pendleton NWS Office:
.LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...THE MAIN FORECAST

CONCERN WITH THE EARLY PART OF THE EXTENDED IS THE HIGH SNOW LEVELS

AND THE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. A VERY MOIST SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO

MOVE THROUGH THE AREA ON THURSDAY. SNOW LEVELS WILL ALSO BE ON THE

RISE WITH MOST OF THE AREA RECEIVING RAIN WITH THIS SYSTEM.

PRECIPITATION TOTALS OF AROUND AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE

CASCADE CREST AND AROUND A HALF INCH OF ADDITIONAL PRECIPITATION ON

THURSDAY FOR THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. WILL NEED TO MONITOR THE SITUATION

FOR RISES IN THE LOCAL RIVERS. THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE OFF THE

WEST COAST WILL THEN BUILD NORTHWARD...PUSHING THE MOISTURE STREAM

NORTH INTO MAINLY WASHINGTON BY FRIDAY. THERE IS UNCERTAINTY HOWEVER

IN HOW FAR NORTH THE MOISTURE WILL BE PUSHED...THEREFORE HAVE LEFT A

CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS PORTIONS OF OREGON WITH THE BETTER

CHANCE FOR THE NORTHEAST MOUNTAINS (UNDER UPSLOPE FLOW) AND IN

WASHINGTON WHERE THE BAND OF MOISTURE WILL BE LOCATED. BY FRIDAY

NIGHT...ANOTHER DISTURBANCE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHWESTERLY

FLOW...BRINGING A ROUND OF RAIN FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. SNOW LEVELS

WILL REMAIN 5000-6000 FEET INTO THE WEEKEND. PRECIPITATION WILL

REMAIN POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY...BUT THE NEXT DISTURBANCE WILL PUSH

THROUGH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SATURDAY NIGHT FOR AN INCREASED THREAT

OF RAIN AND HIGH ELEVATION RAIN AND SNOW. DMH



SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MODELS CONTINUE TO INDICATE WIDESPREAD

MOISTURE ACROSS THE INTERIOR PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AND ALTHOUGH IT IS

TOO SOON TO TELL...MODELS ARE BEGINNING TO INDICATE A FAVORABLE

PATTERN FOR DOWNSLOPE WINDS. SINCE WIND DRIVEN EVENTS DON`T USUALLY







HAVE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF PRECIPITATION...THIS PRESENTS A

CHALLENGE FOR POPS. AS IT STANDS HAVE KEPT POPS IN THE LIKELY

CATEGORY FOR THE EAST SLOPES OF THE CASCADES AND CHANCE TO LIKELY

ALONG THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST OREGON. THE LOWER ELEVATIONS HAVE

BEEN REDUCED 20 TO 30 POPS SINCE THAT IS THE AREA MOST LIKELY TO SEE

WIND AND LITTLE TO NO RAIN. RIGHT NOW THE BEST CHANCE FOR STRONG

WINDS LOOKS TO BE MONDAY AFTERNOON BUT THIS COULD CHANGE FROM DAY TO

DAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO LOOK WELL ABOVE FREEZING FOR THE

EXTENDED AND MAY EVEN REACH THE LOWER 50S ACROSS THE FOOTHILLS AND

THE LOWER COLUMBIA BASIN...AS STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND KEEPS WARM AIR

ADVECTION OVER THE AREAS. WEBER

The Washington State Fusion Center


From time to time our office is asked, “what should I do if I see something that might jeopardize homeland security?”. If it is something that local law enforcement will not act upon, report it to the Washington State Fusion Center. Below is some more information:

The Washington State Fusion Center supports activities to detect, deter, and prevent terrorism. This is accomplished through information collection, integration, analysis, reporting, and dissemination of analytical reports and other information across Federal, State, and Local government agencies, public officials, and private sector critical infrastructure key resource partners.

If you see something, say something! Report suspicious activity immediately to local authorities by calling
9-1-1.The Washington State Fusion Center would like to receive reports of activity and incidents that are reasonably indicative of pre-operational planning related to terrorist activity. {Explanation of reporting categories}

Contact us directly via the Interactive Suspicious Activity Reporting Form {Form Click Here}, WSFC Intake Hotline: 1-877-843-9522, e-mail: intake@wsfc.wa.gov, or fax: 206-262-2014

With your help, we can stop a crime or a terrorist plot.

Submit a tip form: (click here)