Video: Town of Pacific still under water

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PACIFIC, Wash. – The flood waters are finally receding in most areas, but the town of Pacific is still covered.

Residents gathered around an outdoor fire and shared stories about the nightmare they’ve endured over the last few days.

“The water was coming up through the storm drains,” said Bob Jewitt.

It all began Thursday, within minutes after the Army Corps of Engineers released water from a dam, the neighborhood near the White River began to flood fast.

“It was rushing through the garage, through the rec room,” said Jewitt. “We’ve already ripped up the carpet and the padding,” said

The Corps says it released the same amount in years past, but this time there was already to much around from the snowstorm.

“Because of the volume that was moving, nobody anticipated that the streams and creeks would also be at that same level, from what we can understand,” said King County Executive Ron Sims.

Still, residents wish they had been given notice sooner.

“I didn’t have any time to do anything,” said Jewitt. “If I’d known that the water was coming in I could have gotten some sandbags and put around the garage door.

The mayor believes all of this could have been prevented with a little action years ago.

“We had a plan that would have stopped this,” said Mayor Richard Hildreth. “King County decided they did not want to allow us, it’s not that they did not want to participate, they didn’t want to allow us to do that plan.”

The mayor says that plan included raising the levee from the city park to the county line 18 inches. However a county official said they must also consider how raising a levee will affect those who live downstream.

Residents continue to fume, while trying to figure out what to do next.

“Just got to keep cleaning,” said Jewitt.

The manager for King County flood management, Steve Bleifuhs, said they are working on an alternative to raising the levee. He says they have a project in the works to relieve pressure to the levee. He says that project should be completed by 2010.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., visited Pacific on Sunday morning to survey flood damage and meet with local leaders.

Pacific residents can meet with King County and FEMA at the community gym Tuesday at 5 p.m. to find out about government assistance.

The City of Pacific Emergency Operations Center is open Sunday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Building inspectors will be out to assist homeowners with damage assessments and street sweeping will be taking place throughout the effected areas.

Road closures in Pacific as of Sunday morning:

- Butte Ave. closed from County Line Rd. to Steward Rd.

- Third Ave. SE from Pacific Ave. to Alder Lane S.

- Steward Rd. from Butte Ave. to East Valley Hwy.

- West Valley Hwy. between Ellingson Dr. and Third Ave. SW

King County and Waste Management has begun debris removal. Residents are asked to set out any flood-related debris for pick-up. Dumpsters will also be placed on White River Dr. until 3:30 p.m. Sunday and until 5 p.m. Monday for people to dispose of flood-related debris. No appliances, electronics or hazardous materials that would not normally be allowed at a transfer station will be picked up or allowed in dumpsters. A special collection event may be set up at a later date to collect other debris.

Home Depot has sent volunteers into Pacific to assist residents with water removal from homes and carpet cleaning. Extra police patrols will be in effected areas to monitor homes and property.

Citizens that need assistance such as sheltering, food or other assistance can report to the Pacific Community Center located at 100 3rd Ave SE. Community center will be open Sunday until 6 p.m. and can be reached at 253-929-1154. Clean-up kits supplied by the American Red Cross are also available at the community center.