Pacific begins to mop up mess; community meeting set for Tuesday
By MARK KLAAS
Auburn Reporter Editor
Jan 09 2009
As Pacific attempts to mop up from widespread flooding, city and county officials have planned a community meeting to help those residents with water-damaged property pursue state or federal assistance.
A meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Pacific City Hall, 100 Third Ave., SE, to explain how residents can acquire help in the aftermath of the some of area’s worst flooding in recent years.
Many Pacific homeowners do not have flood insurance since they do not live on a designated flood plain.
And many are angry they were not properly warned of advancing water late Thursday as the Army Corps of Engineers began to release pressure from the Mud Mountain Dam, which controls the flow of the neighboring White River.
Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth acknowledged the problems and assured residents they are not alone in their recovery efforts.
Hildreth accompanied King County Executive Ron Sims in going door-to-door to hand out cleanup kits to residents this weekend.
On initial estimates, the city will need to spend about $5 million on flood recovery, which would include flushing the storm system over the next two weeks.
Floodwaters from the swollen White River reached the city streets, spacious park and many homes in this community of 6,000 late Thursday afternoon. Throughout the evening and well into early Friday, floodwaters – mixed with mud and sewage – saturated 40 acres of the city park. The disaster escalated as water inundated more than 100 homes, several businesses and apartment buildings. White River Estates was under as much as 10 feet of water by Friday, a city official estimated.
Water was so deep in some places, Hildreth said, that it isolated certain homes and streets. "At the lower end of White River Drive, we have some homes that were under 4, 6 feet of water," he said.
About 1,200 people were evacuated from neighborhoods near the river.
“Unfortunately, (the White River waters) went dramatically over the bank," Hildreth said. "Whether this is from too much dumped out or the capacity of the river has dropped since 1996, I don't know. But it was dramatically (over the bank) than in (the) 1996 (flood)."
City officials were aware of the Corps’ plans to release water from a full dam on Thursday afternoon.
In an effort to relieve pressure and allow for more downpour at the dam upstream, engineers began to release water when the peak amount stood at 11,700 feet per second. That was the same amount that was released during the ’06 flooding that didn’t cause major problems.
But even engineers and city personnel didn't expect the subsequent, widespread flooding early Friday. Officials suggested the “nuisance flooding” was partly due to already-existing saturated creeks and streams.
Regardless, city streets and neighborhood blocks quickly became a mess, a massive whirlpool. And many residents are angry because they had little or no notice to prepare for the rising waters.
Now, a long and messy recovery ensues.
"Using the November 2006 floods as a barometer, this event was a thousandfold worse," Hildreth said.
Water levels in the city since have receded. Butte Avenue, which had been closed since Thursday night, is now open. Significant flooding continues, although there are no visible levee breaches.
All city crew workers, along with police, public works and emergency personnel from Pacific, Algona, Auburn and the Valley Regional Fire Authority responded to the crisis.
COSTLY MESS
Regarding Western Washington, Gov. Chris Gregoire’s preliminary damage estimates to roads and state property at $125 million. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced $2 million in federal aid, with more expected after the damage assessment is finished.
No estimate had been made concerning personal property damage, but officials said the floods were devastating to many.
Moreover, Gregoire's office announced that the governor is expanding a statewide emergency declaration issued after the December snowstorms to include the flooding.
HELP IS NEEDED
Those wishing to assist in the recovery efforts can do so by contacting City Hall (253-929-1100).
Donations, especially cleaning supplies, are needed in the recovery efforts to help homeowners and business operators.
Shelters have been opened at the Pacific Community Center on Third Avenue Southeast.
The community center will be open 24 hours and can be reached at 253-929-1154.
Auburn Reporter Editor Mark Klaas can be reached at mklaas@reporternewspapers.com or 253-833-0218, ext. 5050.- Civil
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