Olympia — Sen. Tracey Eide, D- Federal Way, has been appointed the Senate representative to the governor's Green River Flood Preparation Subcabinet.

The Subcabinet, facilitated by the state Military Department, includes state agency directors and a representative from the House in addition to Eide.

"We need fast action to protect and prepare against flooding before the dam is repaired, and we need an infrastructure that protects against flooding for years to come," Eide said. "The threat to the Green River Valley would be catastrophic."

Eide is tackling the problem on two fronts. First, to head off the immediate threat of flooding from the Howard Hanson Dam, Eide is working with the Governor’s Office, the King County officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to coordinate emergency preparedness and response in the Valley. . Second, to arrange federal funds for both short- and long-term improvements to the dam, Eide is working with U.S. Rep. Adam Smith’s office.

The flood threat came to light in recent months after engineers discovered cracks that prevent the dam from holding water to its normal, full capacity. To avoid bursting the dam during heavy rain, officials must let water flow that might overwhelm the existing levees that were built in the 1930s to pre-earthquake specifications. Vulnerable cities include Federal Way, Algona, Pacific, Kent, Auburn, Des Moines, Tukwila and Renton.

"The communities in the Green River Valley need protection, and I’m determined to make sure they get it," Eide said.

To that end, Eide is working with the mayors of Kent, Auburn, Pacific, Algona and Tukwila as well as regional lawmakers to help extend affordable insurance to the many businesses at risk in the region. The gross business income of Kent alone is $8 billion. Many manufacturing, distribution and pharmaceutical companies have expensive inventory and equipment that cannot be moved.  Right now businesses can’t find coverage to cover more than $1 million for buildings and contents. 

A recent study of Green River Valley businesses by the King County Flood District found that while 95 percent of respondents were aware of the flood risk, only 46 percent had flood insurance.