Homes in downtown Centralia,
Washington |
FEMA
Closely Monitors Pacific Northwest Flooding 12/05/07
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is closely
monitoring flooding in the Pacific Northwest. The coastal
storm that came ashore on December 1, 2007, has moved
inland, bringing increased flood risk throughout western
Washington and Oregon. |
Additional flooding is expected along some rivers in both states.
FEMA continues coordinating with federal partners, tribal, state and
local governments and voluntary agencies. Federal and state
officials today started a process in Washington to assess damages to
homes and businesses in counties most affected by this week's storm
and flooding.
Additional ongoing coordination in the Pacific Northwest
includes:
* FEMA: Region X Regional Response Coordination
Center is activated at Level III. Region X state liaisons have been
deployed to Oregon and Washington state emergency operation centers.
The Mobile Emergency Response System has been deployed to Astoria,
Oregon and an Incident Response Vehicle has been deployed to
Chehalis, Washington to support U.S. Coast Guard District 13
communications efforts.
* U.S. Coast Guard (USCG): USCG District 13 is
conducting search and rescue efforts. A USCG cutter also is
patrolling the Washington/Oregon coast, providing search and rescue
and communications support. Four helicopters have been staged to
support search and rescue mission.
* U.S. Navy: Navy helicopters are providing
relief assistance to civilians in the area. Search and Rescue
helicopters from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island rescued stranded
individuals along the Chehalis River and in Thurston County.
* U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE): The
USACE continues to provide flood fighting assistance throughout the
region from the Seattle District. Flood teams spread throughout
western Washington are monitoring levees and assisting tribal and
local governments. The USACE is providing technical assistance to
Lewis County and Washington State Department of Transportation teams
working to breach the Airport levee to alleviate flooding that has
closed 20 miles of Interstate 5. More than 16,000 sandbags have been
distributed.
* U.S. Department of Energy: The Bonneville
Power Administration (BPA) has been operating its emergency command
center since Monday morning, Dec. 3. The agency has restored power
to all but the Raymond-Cosmopolis region in Pacific County,
Washington. Crews are on the ground and working to get power
restored as quickly as possible. BPA also is providing equipment and
materials needed for local utilities to energize their lines.
* U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
HHS has provided information on what people can do to protect their
health from the dangers caused by flooding.
* U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The
SBA is working with FEMA and the State of Washington in damage
assessments.
* U.S. Department of Interior: Storm damage
caused some problems in parks throughout the region, with the most
serious occurring at Olympic National Park. On Dec. 4, park crews
began to clear access to park entrance roads, assess damages and
begin repairs to damage caused by the storm.
* National Guard Bureau: Oregon and Washington
National Guard troops are providing support to law enforcement
officials, conducting evacuations and search and rescue operations
and establishing traffic control points. The National Guard also is
working closely with state agencies and private organizations like
the Red Cross to move equipment and supplies to where they're needed
most.
* American Red Cross: The Red Cross focus
remains on sheltering and mass feeding operations. Shelters have
been open in Oregon and Washington since Monday, Dec 3. Mobile
feeding is underway in both states, with additional kitchens and
feeding vehicles moving into place. Damage assessment teams have
been deployed and are operating in accessible areas.
* State of Oregon: The Oregon State Emergency
Coordination Center is at full activation and operating with 24-hour
staffing. Eleven shelters have been established.
* State of Washington: Washington's Emergency
Operations Center is activated at Phase III and operating with
24-hour staffing. Twelve shelters have been established.
* U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Is monitoring
rainfall conditions in the Seattle area relative to some thresholds
the agency has developed for landslides. National Weather Service is
using this information as a basis for issuing landslide
alerts.
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Rains and Winds Gone, but Floods
Continue 12/06/07
Winds of 90 mph and up to 11 inches of rain in Oregon and
Washington state left behind flooded homes, fallen trees and
washed-out roads. The two-day storm started during the
weekend.
The roaring winds and heavy rains are gone but flooding continues
as home- owners wait for water to recede. So far, seven people
have been killed from the storm. Some of these were two hikers who
died in an avalanche, a man buried by a building hit by a mudslide,
and a driver swept away by floodwaters.
The flood waters cover a three-mile section of Interstate 5, the
main route between Seattle and Portland, Ore. since Monday and is
expected to be closed at least through some time next week.
Water depth on the highway was a great as 10 feet.
On Monday, the governors of both states declared a states
of emergency to obtain National Guard assistance and seek federal
money to repair the damage.
Approximately 33,000 customers are still without power the full
extent of the damage from the storms that left vast tracts of the
coastal residential area is still being assessed and won't be
complete until the waters recede further.
Earlier this week, Ben Beal and his family had let their home and
were just settling in a motel room when they were notified to
evacuate immediately. As the left the parking parking lot,
waves were already break across the highway.
"I thought we were going to be swept away," said Amanda
Beal. "You could feel the water pushing the Blazer.
The winds were blowing at 100 mph".
North of Portland, train service including Amtrak service was
disrupted by mudslides.
Terry Roberts moved his cars to higher ground as the flood waters
moved toward his Lewis County home. As he and his family
escaped in their RV, they didn't get far. "We were on dry
road and all of a sudden, the water started swirling around,:
Roberts said. "That's when we got on the CB and called for
help." They were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter and
now reside in a temporary shelter.
More than 300 people had to be rescued in Lewis County by boat
and being plucked off their roof by helicopter.
Towns along the rivers have had both their water treatment and
sewage treatment plants overwhelmed. Tons of raw sewage are in
the flood waters.
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