Report On Western Washington Expected Flooding . . .

Posted by Tami Jackson, EARTH member

Yesterday, the City of Auburn, Washington, hosted a meeting with the White River Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) for volunteer emergency response organizations like ours. The topic was "How Can You Help: Preparing for the Upcoming Flood Season." Four EARTH members, Sarah, Teri, Jerry and Tami met inside Auburn City Hall, 25 W Main St.

Auburn's Mayor Peter B. Lewis opened the meeting by stating that all those businesses and residents living in the South King County Valley, in Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, represent "the canary in the mine" for the rest of this Evergreen state. Those residents and businesses will be the ones most likely to suffer significant losses (think abandoned buildings, lost jobs, businesses closing, sanitation issues) given a typical heavy rain season this fall. That's because the Howard Hansen dam is cracked and water will be released if too much pressure arises.

SOMEWHAT SHOCKING NEWS

While volunteers are desperately needed for containment efforts (e.g., volunteer sandbagging is now in place) those sandbags will likely be visible for five years to come. That's because NOTHING IS PLANNED FOR REPAIRING THE DAM in these upcoming five years and five years of valley flooding is now realistically expected!

FIRST THINGS FIRST: HOW TO PREPARE

Local officials are asking us all to gear up for life-changing events. When flooding disasters play out in a community, those volunteer organizations that provide housing for victims need to provide such service for at LEAST three weeks. 

At the meeting, EARTH member Tami Jackson  met a woman from the Seventh-day Adventist Community Services effort, named Rose, who had been flooded out of her home in Algona last year. To date Rose has STILL not been allowed reentry (due to flood damage). Clearly, given the current dam and heavy rain scenario, many people may become homeless long-term.

Again, the governing officials are urging us all to gear up for significant impact. There are three phases to any flood scenario.

• Pre-disaster (where we all are right now - planning and preparing)
• Disaster (mass evacuation)
• After disaster (when so many businesses close, people lose their jobs, affected residents become homeless, clean-up efforts ensue)

The question all participating rescue volunteers are now asking is "What will it take to support flood victims for the long haul." Certainly services will be required for housing people and pets. After the flood, a need for volunteers willing to shovel mud out of damaged homes will arise. A big concern is the probably lack of building supplies (such as drywall) that is expected to arise after hundreds of thousands in a community begin making the same demands for limited materials.

Auburn's Emergency Preparedness Manager, Sarah K. Miller, urges all groups (like EARTH) who offer support to remain highly accountable to that commitment. Whatever services, materials or support efforts we volunteer -- we MUST provide.

VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION

Christian groups are volunteering to provide housing and shelter for their "own people." That begs this Pagan group to ask: "What resources can we make available for fellow Pagans affected by the predicted floods?"

According to Miller, from the thousands all those whom predictions say will be evacuated, 10% will end up living in shelter-type situations. Sheltering creates a necessity for volunteer-efforts in management. Note: Miller also stated that roughly 7,000 people live in Auburn's flood region. 10,000 live in Kent. 20,000 live in Renton and even more live in Tukwila.

• While many private insurance companies are refusing to provide flood insurance, FEMA still offers that service.
• Any complaints about a private insurance company that drops a flood plane (business or residential home coverage) can be filed with the Washington State Insurance Commission.
• With the Hansen Dam scenario -- a mere 24 hour notice will be provided for evacuation.
• Flood victim-pets may go to a shelter but they will have to be crated and placed in a nearby building away from other owners. [Exception: working animals that help the less-abled will be allowed to stay with their owner.]

MORE ON RELIEF EFFORTS THAT WILL BE NEEDED AFTER DISASTER HITS

While the Red Cross provides some mental health care after any given disaster-type scenario, for those living in shelters, much concern was made about the need for faith based groups to help those individuals who fall through the cracks and do not pursue refuge in shelter type scenarios.

Miller expressed a desperate need to offer mental health care to those victims who are NOT members of any particular faith-based organization. [That is where EARTH's agreement to begin launching the CISM effort will come in handy.]

HOW DO WE REACH OUT TO NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE

Pagan volunteers who speak more than one language will be highly valued as an important resource; on an ongoing basis (for communicating preparation/evacuation information and for helping after disaster strikes to get people the exact care they really need).

CALL FOR MONEY [HELP FOR DISASTER VICTIMS]

Miller stated that donating "stuff" for disaster relief is not usually very effective. Too often "stuff" requires someone to manage and store the goods; then, when the disaster strikes, what was donated is not always appropriate for filling the current need. Volunteer groups are now being asked to consider how they can raise money for disaster relief victims. The Food Bank representative stated that, due to her organizations connections, one dollar donated to them results in five dollars worth of food provided to those in need. Other charitable organizations that accept cash for disaster relief include the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

If individuals want to begin stocking supplies to share after any flood disaster scenario -- Miller suggested they stock cleaning supplies (bleach, disinfectants especially).