[1]Authorities remind motorists not to drive through standing water; this is Rice Road near Stan Hedwall Park in Chehalis this morning.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced this morning the activation of the Lewis County Emergency Operations Center in preparation for impending flooding on the Newaukum and Chehalis rivers.
There is already water over the roadways in several areas along the Newaukum River, according to Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown. Motorists are advised not to drive through deep standing water and obey all road closure signs, Brown states.
Citizens living in flood prone areas are advised to move their animals to high ground.
Brown reminds the public that winter storm event conditions can change rapidly. She suggests people monitor local radio stations for event updates.
Brown advises that sand bags for private residences can be purchased at several locations including Martin Sand and Gravel, Home Depot and Sunbirds Shopping Center.
The city of Centralia has sandbags for its residents.
Due to the flooding from China Creek, a sandbag station has been opened on Center Street between Pearl and Tower, according to the Centralia public works department. Sand, bags, and shovels will be available for use. There will not be anyone there to assist with the process. Questions? Call the Public Works Department at 330-7512.
The sheriff’s office publishes river readings at http://rivers.lewiscountywa.gov/ [2] and information about road closures at http://roads.lewiscountywa.gov/ [3].
Monitor the changing conditions for yourself, using links always available on the right-hand sidebar of this news site under “Other useful web links. Direct from the National Weather Service.
• “River levels [4]“: Graphs show you what level your river has been at, where it’s at right now and where it is projected to be.
• “Weather alerts, forecasts [5]“: Click on the map to find your current and forecast temperature and other weather information, as well as alerts for hazardous weather conditions.
• Also, quickly and easily get information directly from others in the community by viewing or joining Lewis County Sirens on Facebook [6].
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For background, read yesterdays heads-up, “Record-breaking flooding possible on Newaukum River” from Sunday January 4, 2015, here [7]