Green River Valley
Preparing for potential flooding
Like many of our customers, Puget Sound Energy is preparing for a high risk of flooding in the Green River Valley – a threat that could last for up to five years – as a result of the reduced water storage capacity behind the Howard Hanson Dam. The dam was damaged in January 2009 following heavy rains that resulted in a record-high level of water behind the dam.
Safety of the public and our employees is our No. 1 priority. Our preparedness plans are designed to protect you and your property and keep the power on and natural gas flowing for as long as safely possible during a potential flood.
How can you be prepared?
Make sure to follow the recommendations provided by King County and your local jurisdictions. Click on the Community Resources tab for more helpful information.
Also, please remember these everyday safety tips: Stay clear of downed power lines and if you smell a natural gas odor or suspect a leak, leave your home or building immediately and call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 and 911.
If there is a flood, what can you expect from service restoration efforts?
It is important to know that PSE crews will only be able to begin restoration efforts after:
- Flood waters have receded;
- An evaluation by a jurisdictional agency of environmental conditions, such as hazardous waste contamination, determines it is safe to proceed;
- PSE’s energy system is repaired and inspections are complete; and
- Your home or building’s natural gas and/or electric system restoration and any required inspections, including a Washington State Labor & Industries inspection, are complete.
In the event of a flood, we will provide updated information, in coordination with King County and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers incident response officials. We will also regularly communicate via the local news media, PSE.com and online at www.Twitter.com/PSETalk.
More information
Background on Howard Hanson Dam
PSE flood safety tips
Learn more
- Basic information (in eight languages) about preparing for a flood: www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan
- King County fact sheets and FAQs about the Green River: www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan/GreenRiverValley
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inundation maps depicting four potential flood scenarios: http://www.nws.usace.army.mil
- Information about flood insurance: www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/
- Minute-by-minute river-flow information: http://green.kingcounty.gov/rivergagedata/gage-data.aspx?r=green
- Congressman Dave Reichart's Howard Hanson Dam page http://reichert.house.gov/ConstituentServices/HowardHansonDam.htm
- Auburn flood information: www.auburnwa.gov/Emergency/disaster/Green_River_and_Howard_Hanson_Dam_Information
- Kent flood information: www.ci.kent.wa.us/emergencymanagement/index.aspx?id=2636
- Renton information: http://rentonwa.gov/emergencies/default.aspx?id=26157
- Tukwila information: www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/hhdam.html#documents
- General maps of King County flood plains, including the Green River: www.kingcounty.gov/environment/waterandland/flooding/maps
- Consumer Product Safety Commission flood safety tips: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/fema/flood.html
- Business and personal preparedness information and resources from WMD Emergency Management Division: http://www.emd.wa.gov/activations/GreenRiverFlooding.shtml