Flood Control Zone District
Flood Preparedness and Initial Response
Extensive coordination
and preparation is required to develop a strategy for responding
once a flood event is underway. In Whatcom County, the Public
Works Department River and Flood Division works closely with
the County's Division of Emergency
Management (DEM) to plan for and implement a coordinated
response during flood events to ensure public safety and minimize
flood damages.
If your
property is prone to flooding, take steps to prevent or reduce
flood damage. Read the Flooding
in Whatcom County newsletter to find out what you should
do before, during, and after a flood. Every October,
the DEM hosts an annual flood meeting to bring all of the
agencies involved in responding to flood events together to
review response procedures. Agencies involved in emergency
response include:
- Army Corps of Engineers
- National Weather Service
- Red Cross
- Whatcom County Sheriff's Office
- Police departments within cities impacted by flooding
- Fire departments within cities impacted by flooding
- Fire departments within unincorporated Whatcom County
impacted by flooding
- Whatcom County Maintenance and Operations Division
- British Columbia Ministry of Environment
- Washington Department of Transportation
- Local media
In addition to
coordinating with external agencies, Whatcom County's flood
response includes the mobilization of sector observers to
evaluate flooding conditions in the field during a flood event.
The Nooksack River basin is divided into sectors. During
a flood, staff from the Engineering Division of Public Works
travel throughout their assigned sectors and report back to
River and Flood staff on actual flooding conditions in the
field throughout the event. The sector observers are the
"eyes in the field" and their reports provide the
information needed to coordinate an effective flood response.
River and Flood staff work with DEM and Maintenance and Operations
to prioritize problem areas and take appropriate measures
to ensure public safety, minimize the loss of public and private
property and inform the public of current and expected flood
conditions. The photo above shows overtopping of the levee
approximately 1000 to 3000 feet east of the Guide Meridian
on January 8, 2002.
Once a problem area is identified in the field, the situation
is assessed to evaluate whether actions can be taken to minimize
damages. At this point, mobilization of forces may be initiated
to fight the flood. The county trains crews comprised of low-risk
offenders, Washington Conservation Corps, and high school students
to assist in sandbagging operations during a flood.
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