Covington prepared for winter with emergency Web site

If the Green River floods the valley this winter, Covington is as prepared as any city can be to assist people who are evacuating and provide necessary emergency services.

Although Covington is not in the Green River flood zone, it is one of the evacuation routes for Auburn and Kent residents if problems with the Howard Hanson Dam occur as predicted.

Community Relations Coordinator Karla Slate has set up an emergency page on the city's Web site with information concerning any regional emergency and community links with more information.

"I was getting a lot of calls about what would happen if there was a flood," Slate said. "We are in the direct evacuation route. I wanted people to know there could be a lot traffic and trucks may not be able to deliver goods."

The city's Public Works Director Glenn Akramoff said backups on Kent-Kangley and state Route 18 could cause serious problems for residents. Commuters may have problems getting to work and parents could have difficulty finding routes to get their children to school on time.

Slate took the city's Web site and added the emergency preparedness page so anyone could "get the most current information. I envision people using it to see what is coming. The links and site will be updated as things happen."

The page lists links to agencies, tips, important phone numbers and current updates. The site has links to both the King County and state departments of public health, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Regional Public Information Network and area health care facilities.

The emergency page address more than floods, it deals with any city or regional emergency including information about the H1N1 influenza, how to set up a kit with supplies to prepare for an emergency and information about services in the event of power outages or other disasters.

The page gives information about who is in danger of flooding, who needs flood insurance and emergency contact information in the event of a disaster.

Slate said people can also sign up for police e-mail alerts, which can be sent to their computer or cell phone.

The site is an information tool for residents and for people living outside the city.

Contact Covington Reporter Regional Editor Dennis Box at dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5050.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.