Tacoma Declares State of Civil Emergency
Just in case you didn’t know … it’s raining out there. And, it’s raining enough that the Puyallup is expected to bust its banks early Thursday morning. With that in mind, Tacoma’s Mayor and City Manager have declared a state of civil emergency.
The declaration was made based on flooding risks to the City’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, which could pose a risk to public health.
The City’s Emergency Operations Center will open at 6 p.m. tonight and will remain open for the duration of the emergency.
The City’s surface water crews have switched to a 24-hour work schedule to attempt to keep the more than 22,000 public storm drains clean in Tacoma. Drains near street corners and in low areas of streets and parking lots are the main concern. Drivers navigating Tacoma’s rain-logged streets or in areas that are prone to slides, such as Schuster Parkway and Marine View Drive, are encouraged to drive with caution. Remember that it is not safe to walk or drive through flooded areas.
Check your basements.
How are you doing? Staying dry?
Link to the City of Tacoma
UPDATE
I-5 in Fife may be closing due to flooding. TNT has the full press release here.
9 comments
J Jake January 7, 2009
“The declaration was made based on flooding risks to the City’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, which could pose a risk to public health.”
Shouldn’t we be informed as to why it is a risk to public health?
R RR Anderson January 7, 2009
you might get poopie water on your fingers. that’s bad for public health.
C crenshaw sepulveda January 7, 2009
You can tell RR is a new father.
A altered chords January 8, 2009
Not staying dry. Slept 3 hrs last night. Needed to pump water out of the basement every 2 hrs.
H h January 8, 2009
Two parked cars were under a small mud/treeslide at the Pt Defiance ferry terminal this morning. Blocked traffic and created a muddy distraction.
J Joe January 8, 2009
@Jake: Many of the pipes that handle blackwater also handle stormwater. They have a divider down the middle that covers only about 3/4 of the diameter of the pipe. If you get too much stormwater the two will mix and you’ve got poop coming out where it shouldn’t.
That’d be one reason.
M Monica January 8, 2009
I am worried, but I am also thinking how we can help solve this? I mean clearing storm drains is one thing, but when you think about how much control do we have over flooding. None. Need sandbags anyone?
T Thorax O'Tool January 9, 2009
I spent 2 hrs over the last couple of nights clearing leaves outta storm drains.
When your entire intersection is under 12” of water, it’s do that or flood your engine.
Vrooommmmm….. glub glub.
No thanks. Besides, I was already wet, may as well get really soaked.
D David Boe January 9, 2009
So does anyone else think it is peculiar that the City of Tacoma is going to spend $40m+ on an ‘platinum green’ Urban Waters facility to study the clean-up options for urban watershed enviroments – meanwhile the City has a sewage treatment plant that is at the continued risk of being flooded and subsequently creating a huge urban water pollution disaster for Commencement Bay?