If the Green River floods, follow the signs

King County set to begin marking key evacuation routes

If the Green River Valley is threatened with major flooding this season, will you know the quickest way to higher ground? 
 
In an effort to speed evacuation when floodwaters rise, King County began installing evacuation signs on key roads in unincorporated areas Monday.
 
Many homes and businesses in the Green River Valley that don’t typically see floodwater - including parts of Auburn, Kent, Renton, Tukwila and unincorporated King County - should be prepared to evacuate this winter. Seepage from an earthen bank next to the Howard Hanson Dam has reduced capacity to hold back water during periods of prolonged heavy rain - and that has increased the risk of serious flooding.
 
If evacuations do become necessary, residents should know the quickest and safest passage away from areas considered vulnerable to flooding. In the coming days, King County Road Services Division crews will install 27 blue and white signs with directional arrows along 11 roads in unincorporated areas.
 
King County and other government service providers in the valley have been working together for several months to identify the least flood-prone routes providing the quickest routes to higher ground. The coordinated effort will also ensure that there is a common understanding among agencies of roads considered priorities before and after the flood.
 
A map of roads that have been identified as evacuation routes in the Green River Valley will be posted online beginning Monday, Nov. 2.
 
Once the evacuation signs are in place, residents should take the time to familiarize themselves with posted routes near their home that will safely take them out of harm’s way. The idea is to have more than one way out when flooding begins to occur.
 
Of course, no road is safe when it is overtaken by floodwater. Motorists should never drive around barricades or road closure signs – this is the leading cause of drowning during floods. Roads and bridges are closed when crews determine they are no longer safe for travel.
 
In addition to identifying evacuation routes, contingency planning has also been underway to identify impacts from flooding to Metro Transit service in the Green River Valley.
 
Metro has identified a revised bus service plan for about 30 regular routes when service can no longer be operated due to flooding. However, service on some existing routes may be suspended until roadways can be reopened. That’s why transit customers are being encouraged to identify backup travel plans as part of their pre-flood planning. They can learn more about these transit service alternatives by visiting Metro Online.