The Cowlitz River carries logs and other plant debris down the river in early February in Randle.
The East Lewis County damage estimate from early February flooding has county officials stressing the importance of being prepared.
The total estimate for damages, as of Feb. 20, is roughly $1.06 million. Deputy Director of Emergency Management Andy Caldwell calls the number a “placeholder” estimate that could potentially rise.
“I want the main takeaway to be preparedness,” Caldwell said. “It’s always important to be prepared. We never know when the incident is going to occur and I just think it’s important to just be aware of your surroundings be aware if you live in an area prone to flooding and make sure you and your families are prepared for this.
According to Lewis County Emergency Management’s estimates, public facility damage will cost the county roughly $960,950, while three residential claims received a $102,000 price tag. Ten total residential claims were filed, but only three saw flood water enter inside their primary residence and counted toward FEMA’s Individual Assistance program thresholds. One of the homes sustained major impact and the other two claims were classified as minor impacts.
Caldwell said the damage hasn’t reached the county threshold of roughly $286,000 in damages and approximately 100 primary residences affected to be eligible for potential loan assistance for those affected by the flooding through Individual Assistance as of Feb. 28.
“(The other seven claims) can be a garage outside, property erosion, any of those things, but that doesn’t apply to our numbers that we need to get for the Individual Assistance program,” Caldwell said. “That doesn’t mean there’s not hope there, right, I want to make sure I emphasize that. We’re still considered a contiguous county, any county surrounding us can apply for the Individual Assistance program.”
Caldwell cited an example in which any bordering counties, such as Thurston or Pierce, qualify for the program. In that case, those affected in Lewis County can apply “as if it was Lewis County.”
That’s also contingent upon Lewis County being classified as contiguous, or a bordering county of a primary county.
“It’s not that there isn’t, those other people who had the property damage, a hope of potential for Individual Assistance,” Caldwell said. “It’s just right now, that’s all we can do is take the numbers in, report them and see if it connects and builds on Thurston County’s case.”
Additionally, $864,240 is estimated to have been spent by Lewis County Public Works on wages — both standard and overtime — equipment costs and emergency as a result of the flood. The City of Chehalis needs roughly $46,710 for repairs to its pumping station and the Port of Chehalis saw approximately $50,000 worth of damage.
The documents state Randle Fire Chief Jeff Jaques reported some self-evacuations by town residents in “low-lying areas,” on Thursday, Feb. 6.
On the morning of Friday, Feb. 7, Jaques confirmed the flooding was not as bad as initial projections suggested it would be. When asked if the projected peak of the water level was still expected to hit 22 feet, he said it was dropping.
“I’m not sure we’re expecting that much now,” Jaques said on Feb. 7. “The rate of rise has tapered off, they’ve still (got) it at 22.03 (feet), but it has been going up about a 10th of a foot, maybe a little bit more, every 15 minutes and now it’s slowed down to about 500ths of a foot every 15 minutes. So far, it’s slowed down, whether it stays there or not, who knows.”
Most of the damage occurred as a result of “severe land erosion and culvert damages due to the amount of heavy rains sustained in a short period of time and swiftly moving river currents,” per Emergency Management.
Cautious optimism was Caldwell’s primary message to those affected.
“As an individual county, we definitely aren’t going to qualify for it,” Caldwell said. “So, our hopes really rest in our connecting counties for contiguous counties being able to qualify for the Individual Assistance program.”
Caldwell hopes that if the program becomes available to those affected, for which the county has already applied, they won’t have to wait longer than six months to be informed. At that point, if offered, he says they could apply and the amount of the loan, as well as other specific details, are discussed between the applicant and the Small Business Association, which administers the loans.
“This is one of those things where it’s so important to stress the need for flood insurance,” Caldwell said. “Being aware of your surroundings and making sure you’re prepared before incidents occur.
“I don’t want to take an opportunity like this to push the preparedness message, but it does become important that we consider that into the equation.”
