The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, put its Emergency Operations Center into operation March 13 and has sent teams out to the St. Joe and Coeur d’Alene river basins as rivers continue to rise.
The Corps has sent a team to provide technical assistance to the City of St. Maries at their request and has a team en route to Coeur d’Alene to monitor levees there.
The Corps has also supplied a pump to Kootenai County and distributed 5,000 sandbags to the City of Ellensburg.
“The Corps has sent out teams of emergency responders who are familiar with the local conditions and the specific threats in the area,” said Doug Weber, Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Emergency Management Branch Chief.
Flood team members will be in the area to provide assistance as requested and monitor conditions until the major flood threat has passed.
Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures. The purpose is to prevent loss of life and minimize property damage associated with severe weather.
Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices.
The National Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings and should be consulted for that information.
Release no. 17-009