The King County Flood Control District Executive Board sent to the full Board of Supervisors a resolution on funding an analysis of the county’s flood preparedness efforts in the event of a dam failure.

This resolution supports the Metropolitan King County Council’s legislation promoting proactive measures to save lives and protect property from potential floods and dam failure. The resolution was sponsored by Flood District Chair Reagan Dunn.

“I am glad to see the Flood Control District and County Council take action to help King County become better prepared,” said Dunn in a county media release on Monday. “Proper planning and coordination are essential tools to mitigate the costs of floods, and we can always improve our preparation.”

“The ongoing crisis with the Oroville Dam in California offers a good reminder for us to assess King County’s current emergency preparedness and to further the Flood Control District’s mission to protect lives and property,” said Flood District Vice Chair Dave Upthegrove.

There are four major dams in King County, which prevent flooding, provide drinking water and support economic growth. These dams are the Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River, the Masonry Dam (aka Chester Morse Dam) on the Cedar River, the Tolt River Dam and Mud Mountain Dam on the White River.

In 2009, FEMA conducted a study on the Howard Hanson Dam (which helps prevent flooding in Kent), and predicted that if it had failed, the resulting floods would displace thousands of people and cause billions of dollars of damage. Preventative action and preparation are valuable tools to prevent such losses.

“This resolution is a timely update of our flood preparedness in the case of failure of one of our four dams,” said Supervisor Pete von Reichbauer. “In light of the recent issues facing dams around the country, we must remain vigilant to protect people, businesses and homeowners.”

“I support this investment in public safety. While the possibility of a dam failure in King County is remote, we must ensure that we are well prepared should the unthinkable happen,” said Supervisor Claudia Balducci. “This type of work is why we have a Flood District in King County and I look forward to seeing the results of the assessment this summer.”

The Flood Control District oversees a $330 million six-year capital budget and an $11 million annual operating budget. The district is funded by a property tax of 13 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation.