Full Notification

PEND OREILLE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

SITUATION REPORT #5
May 25, 2018 15:00 & Continuing
State Incident Number 18-1566


Flood Update Information: As of 3:00 PM Friday, May 25, 2018
• Cusick Gauging Station Reading: 2046.58 Feet
• Albeni Falls Dam Outflow: 116,400 CFS

LAST 48 HOUR OPERATIONAL PERIOD
1. General Information:

The National Weather Service forecasts that the River will begin to rise over the Holiday weekend and the forecasted crest has been reduced to 123,500 cfs about May 31st.

Effective May 25, 2018, pursuant to Resolution 2018-20 of Pend Oreille County - the Pend Oreille River is closed to recreational activities. NO boating, swimming or any other activity is allowed on the river until further notice.

The temporary “No Wake” speed restrictions remain on Diamond Lake, Sacheen Lake and Bead Lake.

Crews from the Washington Conservation Corps & Americorps, continued sandbagging at Riverbend, Wagon Wheel Ave, Greggs Rd, Dilling Dr, Highway 20 and LeClerc Rd.

Fire District 2 is working with North County residents and providing assistance as needed.

PUD is providing bottled water to their water system customers on the Riverbend and Sandy Shores water systems.

2. River Bend Loop:

The south end of River Bend Loop remains closed due to water over the roadway.

Many residents are voluntarily evacuating due to the water levels.

3. Roads:

Davis Road (Off of Hwy 20) is closed due to water over the road.

Bee Hive Lane and Bear Paw Drive continue to have water over the roadways.

Road Department personnel are closely watching Deeter Rd, McCloud Creek Rd, Yergens Rd, Sandy Shores Rd and Montana Drive due to forecasted flooding.

4. Bridges:

Road Department personnel are closely watching bridges along the River.

The Usk Bridge was cleared of the buildup of debris in the River by the Kalispel Tribe and the Pend Oreille County Road Department.

5. Water/Sewer Systems:

The PUD “DRINKING WATER WARNING – BOIL WATER ADVISORY” for the Riverbend and Sandy Shores Water Systems remains in effect.

6. Sand/Sandbags:

Pend Oreille County Public Works has replenished sand and sandbags at the following locations:
CCA Creek & LeClerc Road Levitch Road
River Bend Loop Yergens Road
Stanley Drive Cusick Boat Launch
Sandy Shores Ponderay Shores
Greggs Addition District 2 Road Shop (Hwy 211 & Jared Rd)
Davis/Mallard Roads District 3 Road Shop (Ione)
Skookum Rendezvous Fire District 5 Station

DEM has established the Pend Oreille County Public Information Line at 447-1988.

To find the flow information for Albeni Falls Dam as well as updates to Flood Warning information you can go to the NWS website at http://www.weather.gov/spokane. On the “Rivers and Lakes” click on “River Observations (Map)” link and then click on the “Pend Oreille River below Albeni Falls Dam” icon which will take you to the information on the outflow at the Dam. To find the information on the Cusick Gauging Station Elevation as well as the CFS outflow at Box Canyon Dam you can go to http://www.popud.com/ and click on the link titled “Pend Oreille River – Flow and Elevation”.

Below is the updated River Flood Warning from the National Weather Service

Flood Warning
Flood Statement
National Weather Service Spokane, WA
229 PM PDT Fri May 25 2018

The Flood Warning continues for
The Pend Oreille River below Albeni Falls.
* until further notice.
* At 1:00 PM Friday the flow was 116400.00 cfs.
* Flood stage is 95000.00 cfs.
* Moderate flooding is occurring and Moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast...The river is expected to continue to rise to near
123500 cfs by late Thursday morning.
* At 135000.0 cfs...This flow corresponds approximately to 2049 feet
(river rising 6/2/1997) to 2049.5 feet (river receding 6/11/1997)
at the Cusick gage, based on 1997 records.
* At 130000.0 cfs...Several portions of Le Clerc Road will be
underwater. This flow corresponds approximately to 2048.5 feet
(river rising 6/1/1997) to 2049 feet (river receding 6/15/1997) at
the Cusick gage, based on 1997 records. Flooding of many homes in
the Riverbend, Sandy Shores, and Sunvale Acres areas.
* At 125000.0 cfs...This flow corresponds approximately to 2047 feet
(river rising 5/19/1997) to 2048 feet (river falling 6/18/1997) at
the Cusick gage, based on 1997 records.
* At 120000.0 cfs...Water will begin to cover portions of Deeter,
Sandy Shores, McCloud Creek, and Yergens Roads. Flooding of homes and structures on Riverbend Loop Road, Yergens Road, Bear Paw Road, Davis Road, Sandy Shores neighborhood, near Deeter Road, near the Out Post Resort, and other locations. Some flooding of the Pow Wow grounds at Usk. This flow corresponds approximately to 2046 feet (river rising May 18-19, 1997) to 2047.5 feet (river receding 6/21/1997) at the Cusick gage, based on 1997 records.
* At 115000.0 cfs...Water will be over portions of Davis and Yergens
Roads. Many low-lying private drives will be flooded. This flow
corresponds approximately to 2045 feet (river rising 5/18/1997) to
2047 feet (river receding 6/22/1997) at the Cusick gage, based on
1997 records.


Safety Alert: The Pend Oreille River is closed throughout the entire County

The Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office warns citizens of the extreme danger the Pend Oreille River poses due to the extremely high flow and ongoing flooding issues.

Pursuant to Resolution 2018-20 of Pend Oreille County - the Pend Oreille River is now closed to recreational activities. NO boating, swimming or any other activity is allowed on the river until further notice.

The river poses extreme danger due to high flows, cold temperatures, and debris such as logs and brush being carried downstream. These dangers can cause injury or death. Hypothermia caused by the runoff can affect those in the river and those who may be accidently swept away by the current can become life-threatening immediately.

Please maintain a safe distance from the river. If you are placing sandbags or doing other measures to protect property, please wear a PFD (personal floatation device) as even being behind a levy or dike can be dangerous should they fail and water can threaten your safety, you could be swept away.

Right now, the river is predicted to rise with these warm temperatures. By this closure the Sheriff’s Office wants to keep our citizens safe and minimize hazards to First Responders who will not be put at risk unnecessarily with this closure.

Make the right choice, Stay Safe, Heed this closure order and stay away from the Pend Oreille River.
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North East Tri County Health District

May 23, 2018

CATEGORY: News Release

RELEASE DATE: For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Matt Schanz
(509) 684-2262 or [email protected]

With Memorial Day weekend approaching and as summer starts, many visitors and area residents look for recreational opportunities on the Pend Oreille River, including boating, swimming, and fishing. However, the current flood conditions present significant health and safety risks. Because of the danger of the high-water levels, fast moving waters, cold water conditions, and significant debris, many public recreation sites along the river are closed.

The river is nearing record flood levels and is expected to remain flooded into June. Northeast Tri County Health District Health Officer Sam Artzis, M.D., is urging individuals to avoid direct contact with floodwaters due to the high risk of water contamination. With flooding occurring throughout the Pend Oreille Lake and River, flood waters contain fecal matter from sewage systems, agricultural wastes, and other contaminates.

If contact with flood water is unavoidable, Dr. Artzis recommends that “individuals should practice very good hygiene with frequent handwashing, limit exposure of open cuts or wounds to floodwater, and seek medical attention if unusual symptoms develop. It’s also important when working to clean up after flood events that individuals are current on vaccinations, especially for tetanus.” For further information about how to stay healthy during flood events, visit www.netchd.org .

Northeast Tri County Health District Offices:
• Colville – Stevens County: 509-684-2262
• Newport – Pend Oreille County: 509-447-3131
• Republic – Ferry County: 509-775-3111

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Pend Oreille PUD
DRINKING WATER WARNING – BOIL WATER ADVISORY

The Riverbend Water System and the Sand Shores Water Systems located in Pend Oreille County, may become contaminated because of flooding.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. Boiled tap water or purchased bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.
When flooding occurs, it is possible that contamination from the environment or from human or animal waste may be drawn into the water system. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. These symptoms are not only caused by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. People at increased risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care provider.
What happened? What is the suspected or known source of contamination? The current flooding event may have the potential to contaminate the water system
The following is being done to correct the problem:
Additional monitoring will be done until the flooding resides, the District will notify you when the Boil advisory is lifted.

What should consumers do?
• Boil your tap water intended for human consumption (i.e. drinking, cooking, food preparation, ice making, oral hygiene) at a rolling boil for 1 minute.
We have consulted with the Washington State Department of Health about this incident. We will notify you when you no longer need to boil the water. For more information, please contact Mark “Bubba” Scott at (509) 447-6375.
Please share this notice with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distribution copies by hand or mail.

Follow our website (www.popud.org) and Facebook page for the most up to date information.
This notice is sent to you by Pend Oreille Public Utility District on 5/17/2018
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North East Tri County Health District

May 17, 2018

CATEGORY: News Release

RELEASE DATE: For Immediate Release

CONTACT: Matt Schanz (509) 684-2262

Northeast Tri County Health District Urges Individuals to Take Steps to Stay Healthy and Safe Before, During and After Flooding With showers and wet thunderstorms expected in Central and Eastern Washington state into Friday, National Weather Service officials issued a flood warning, cautioning that rivers in these areas are likely to flood or continue flooding. Since floods can impact the public’s health, sometimes even leading to loss of life, Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) officials urge individuals in Stevens, Pend Oreille and Ferry counties to take steps to stay healthy and safe.
Before Flooding Happens
• Make a flood emergency plan with plans for evacuation, shelter, and locations for high ground. • Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit. Include a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies. Make plans to severely limit water use during and after flooding. • If you have a drinking water well, make sure it has a tight-fitting, waterproof cap. Wrap the cap and well casing with durable sheet plastic and duct tape, then place sand bags around the well. Ensure the backflow prevention valves are in place. Turn the electricity off to your well pump just prior to the flood. Do not turn the electricity back on until the flood waters recede. If the well is not used during the flood, plug the vent holes. Remember to unplug the vent holes after threat of flood is passed. • If you have a septic system, ensure all access points to the system (lids, risers, cleanouts and inspection ports) are properly covered to prevent the flow of flood waters into the system. Install a backflow preventer (check valve) on the building sewer so sewage cannot back up into your home during a flooding event. If your septic system requires electricity, turn off the pump and alarms at the circuit box before the area floods. Discontinue use of the system once the power supply has been shut off. Limit water use during and after the actual flooding event. The drainfield may not accept effluent until the area dries. Normal water use should not continue until the area is unsaturated and the septic system has been inspected to identify problems and any necessary repairs have been made. • Bring in outdoor furniture and move important indoor items to the highest possible floor. This will help protect them from flood damage. • Disconnect electrical appliances and do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. You could be electrocuted. • If instructed, turn off your gas and electricity at the main switch or valve. This helps prevent fires and explosions.
To avoid being trapped when floodwaters threaten know and follow the directions from local officials for community evacuation. Do not enter flooded areas or moving water, either on foot or in a vehicle, including areas that appear to have only inches of water.

Floods can also cause damage to structures, land, roads and utilities, and can also lead to erosion and landslides, and result in secondary damage. Earlier this week, Gov. Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency for Eastern Washington counties, confirming that flooding is already impacting regional water and sewage treatment facilities and threatening state highways and local roads. While state agencies and local jurisdictions are coordinating resources to address the impacts caused by the flooding, there are steps individuals can take as well.
After a Flood
• Return home only when authorities say it is safe. • Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded and watch out for debris. Floodwaters often erode roads and walkways. • Do not attempt to drive through areas that are still flooded. • Avoid standing water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. If there is standing water in your home, never turn power on or off yourself – contact an electrician. • Photograph damage to your property for insurance purposes.
It is best to assume that all floodwater is contaminated with disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria and viruses.
Important health considerations
• Wear waterproof boots and gloves to help avoid skin contact with floodwater, wash hands often, be current on your tetanus vaccination, and protect open wounds from floodwater. • Clean and dry out your home to disinfect and prevent mold growth. In most cases, household cleaning products will be adequate for cleaning. Items that cannot be washed and disinfected may have to be discarded. Remove as much moisture as possible quickly to help control mold growth. • Eat and drink only food and water that are safe. o Check for boil-water advisories. o Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush teeth, prepare food, make ice or make baby formula. o Wells that have been flooded should be disinfected and tested before being used for drinking water. NETCHD has specific guidance on the process to disinfect a drinking water well that can be obtained at any of our offices or at www.netchd.org • Evaluate flooded septic systems. Don’t put the system back in use until after the flood waters recede and an evaluation of the system is made. NETCHD has specific guidance about septic systems impacted by floods that can be obtained at any of our offices or at www.netchd.org

“These floods continue to leave devastation behind them, and we understand that people will want to clean up and repair their homes and communities as soon as possible. We’re here to help protect their health as they do so,” stated Matt Schanz, NETCHD Administrator.
More information is available at any NETCHD office or on its website at www.netchd.org . Staff are also available to assist in providing recommendations and consultation. Upon request, staff are available to visit properties after floodwaters recede to assist homeowners in recovery recommendations.
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Next Report Will Be Available As Conditions Change
JoAnn Boggs, Deputy Director
Pend Oreille County Emergency Management
P.O. Box 5035/101 S. Garden Ave.
Newport, WA 99156
(509) 447-3731
[email protected]