Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon has declared October 24-31 as “Flood Preparedness Week,” urging residents to stock up on emergency supplies before the flood season begins.
 
“This year, with the National Weather Service forecasting a wetter, colder winter, it is especially important for citizens to have a family plan and emergency supplies for extreme conditions,” Reardon said. “The county is taking a similar inventory of supplies and emergency response plans for severe weather so that our staff will be fully equipped and ready to assist.”
 
Snohomish County produces an annual publication that provides valuable flood-related information for residents. The 2010 Flood Guide includes:
 
·         preventing flooding and protecting your property;
·         actions you can take to avoid flood disaster – before, during and after a flood;
·         the Flood Warning System, and how it works;
·         emergency phone numbers and contact information;
·         obtaining flood insurance.
 

The 2010 Flood Guide was recently mailed to all floodplain area residents. It is also available online at www.snoco.org by searching “2010 Flood Guide.” Other copies can be obtained from the Snohomish County Departments of Emergency Management by calling 425-388-5060 or Public Works’ Surface Water Management Division at 425-388-3464.
 
Flooding in Snohomish County generally occurs between October and March. More than 10,150 households live within the county’s 222 square miles of floodplain. Six presidential declarations of disaster have been issued for Snohomish County since 2006: four for flooding, one for a severe winter storm and another for a severe winter storm with near-record snow. Damage estimates for these storms total nearly $60 million.
 
For more information on preparedness visit these sites:
www.snoco.org, then click on Surface Water Management and Department of Emergency Management web pages;
·         www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_infocus_winter.shtml#Floods;
·         http://www.snohomishcounty.redcross.org.